Historic palaeobotanical collection reveals in situ microspores and pollen from Early Carboniferous (Tournaisian) ovules from the Ballagan Formation of Scotland

Ovules from the Albert Long Collection were investigated for in situ microspores and pollen. The ovule Genomosperma kidstoni contains Prolycospora claytonii a trilete microspore previously attributed to the lycopods. Already reported associations between Colatisporites decorus and Stamnostoma huttonense, Colatisporites denticulatus and Lyrasperma scotica and Remysporites magnificus and Protopitys scotica were verified. This demonstrates the importance of historic collections and particularly ovules for determining the palaeobotanical affinities of dispersed miospores and pollen.