LAUSR

ABSTRACT Arils within seed fossils are rare in the geological record, especially during the Palaeozoic. Thus, in order to augment seed fossils research from the Paleozoic, we describe three new specimens from the Permian of Jinchang City, Gansu Province, Northwest China. This material includes one new species, Samaropsis jinchangensis Y. F. Hua et al B.N. Sun sp. nov., and two known species, Trigonocarpus ovatum and Cardiocarpus cordai. We describe the microstructure of S. jinchangensis sp. nov.; the testa cells of this taxon are irregular and arils are found enwrapping seeds. Taken in combination with modern botany, seed dispersal characteristics are also discussed in this paper as well as palaeoclimate responses. This study confirms that a degree of symbiosis between animals and plants must have existed during the Permian; at the same time, changes in climate include drought fluctuations superimposed on a warm and humid background.