The evolutionary macromorphological novelties of <italic>Bussacoconus zeliapereirae</italic> gen. et sp. nov. (Sphenophyllales, Polypodiopsida) from the Upper Pennsylvanian of Portugal.

A new sphenophyllalean strobilus, <italic>Bussacoconus zeliapereirae</italic> gen. et sp. nov. is described from the Vale da Mó Formation (Stephanian C, Upper Pennsylvanian) of the Buçaco Carboniferous Basin, central western Portugal. <italic>Bussacoconus zeliapereirae</italic> is diagnosed based on macromorphological features, which distinguish it from the other late Palaeozoic sphenophyllalean cones for by its remarkably distinctive branched sporangiophores and ribs. The primary sporangiophores are characterised by being developed, strong and rigid, and distally hook-shaped, displaying thin secondary sporangiophores, which individually bearing a single sporangium at the end. In addition, <italic>Bussacoconus zeliapereirae</italic> is also taxonomically distinct from its distal and basally hook-shaped strong ribs. Such singular features represent evolutionary macromorphological novelties (autapomorphies) into the Sphenophyllales. As a result, this fossil finding provides new information on the functional and ecological morphology of the sphenophyllalean strobili. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]