Podozamites

Reconstruction of Podozamities harrisii with the associated cones of Krassilovia mongolica from the Early Cretaceous of Mongolia

Podozamites leaves are thought to have been regularly shed. Podozamites leaves sensu stricto are associated with conifer cones of the genera Swedenborgia, Cycadocarpidium, and Krassilovia, which were suggested in 2020 to constitute the distinct family Krassiloviaceae within the Voltziales.[1] The paracyctic stomata and other morphological features of Krassiloviaceae are simiar to those of Gnetales, suggesting that they may be closely related.[1]

Podozamites sensu stricto first became widespread at mid-latitudes during the Late Triassic. During the Early Jurassic in East Asia, it formed almost monospecific assemblages where it was the dominant plant. Over the course of the Jurassic, the distribution shifted northwards in response to the drying of the lower latitudes, becoming restricted to between 60 and 30 degrees north by the Early Cretaceous. Podozamites senus stricto would become extinct during the Turonian stage of the Late Cretaceous, coincident with the arrival of flowering plants into the Siberian region.[2]

A number of species within the genus were listed by Fossilworks, as of May 2021: Podozamites agardhianus, Podozamites distans, Podozamites lanceolatus, Podozamites longifolius, Podozamites mucronatus, Podozamites pinnatus and Podozamites schenki.[3] Agathis jurassica, initially identified as Podozamites lanceolatus, has also been placed in this genus.[4] Podozamites harrissii from the Early Cretaceous of Mongolia is associated with Krassilovia mongolica, while Podozamites schenkii is associated with the Triassic-Jurassic Swedenborgia cryptomerioides and Triassic Cycadocarpidium erdmanni.[1] It has been noted that extant Agathis (Araucariaceae) and Nageia (Podocarpaceae) qualify as members of Podozamites under its morphogenus sense.[2]