Four New Equisetites Species (Sphenophyta) from the Hojedk Formation, Middle Jurassic (Bajocian-Bathonian), the North of Kerman, Iran

Middle Jurassic (Bajocian-Bathonian) Sphenophyta fossils of the silicified level peats of the Pabdana Coal Mine (Kerman) recovered. Four new species of Sphenophyta described for the first time. They include Equisetites pabdanaii sp. nov., Equisetites sparseii sp. nov., Equisetites hojedkii sp. nov. and Equisetites irregularii sp. nov.,. Descriptions of the above mentioned new species has been done based on their exclusive length of internodes, rib shapes, grooves, jointed stems, ribs density, number of grooves and form of nodes location. Recovered specimens include huge stems, which their length and width ranges are 260-310mm and 140-150mm respectively. Recognized species are associated with some Bajocian –Bathonian genera including: Nilssonia, Podozamites and Phlebopteris. Comparison of the recognized species with equisetums to some parts of Gondwana indicated that the Kermanian equisetums are similar to those of Australia, China, Afghanistan, central and south of Europe. Therefore, the Kerman Basin was a part of Gondwana during the Bajocian – Bathonian time interval.