Evidence of land plant affinity for the Devonian fossil Protosalvinia (Foerstia)

The Devonian plant fossil Protosalvinia (Foerstia) has been examined by solid-state ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) and pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (PY-GC-MS). Results of these studies reveal that the chemical structure of Protosalvinia is remarkably similar to that of coalified wood. A well-defined phenolic carbon peak in the NMR spectra and the appearance of phenol and alkylated phenols in pyrolysis products are clearly indicative of lignin-like compounds. These data represent significant new information on the chemical nature of Protosalvinia and provide the first substantial organic geochemical evidence for land plant affinity.  Protosalvinia, Foerstia, Upper Devonian, biostratigraphy, carbon-13 NMR, PY-GC-MS, lignin.