基于内蒙古乌达煤田下二叠统太原组内火山凝灰岩层中保存的大量标本，对长星叶 Asterophyllites longifolius (Sternberg)Brongniart的形态特征和生态习性进行探讨。这是该种作为成煤植物首次发现于华夏植物地理区。该种的主要特征是：至少三级分枝系统，末三级枝顶部不等二歧分叉形成末二级分枝，末二级枝节部生长末级枝。末级枝节部轮生叶；叶线形或披针形，宽与长度的比值最小可达1∶100，边缘直，两侧平行轮生于末级枝节部，每轮叶约30枚，具中脉；相邻的叶轮之间相互叠覆；与之连生的繁殖器官为 Palaeostachya 型。基于野外现场埋藏学样方统计确认该植物在成煤沼泽内局部具有较高的丰度，与一些草本蕨类和种子蕨类组成了成煤沼泽植物群落的下层植被。长星叶是石炭纪—二叠纪华夏植物群与欧美植物群的共同分子之一，在华夏植物区分布时间更长(从早石炭世末期至晚二叠世)；它们于宾夕法尼亚亚纪晚期在泛大陆西部以及中部逐渐消失，可能与当时低纬度地区激烈动荡的气候条件有关。

The gross morphology and growth habit of Asterophyllites longifolius (Sternberg)Brong-niart is discussed based on a large suite of specimens from the Cisuralian (Permian) Wuda Tuff Flora in the Taiyuan Formation of Wuhai City，Inner Mongolia，North China．This species is reported as an important element of peat-forming floral communities in Cathaysia for the first time．At least three orders of branching，with the third last order branch，unequally dichotomous．Leaves are linear，lanceolate，commonly cupped around the axis forming whorls at the node， with generally equal length．There are about 20—30 leaves in each whorl．The width-length ratio of leaves is up to 1∶100．Based on our material，the reproductive organ of A．longifolius described here is Palaeostachya sp．，which is associated with the trophophyll．Stems and branches are found in association with the strobilus and leaves of A．longifoliusin the same quadrat．Our finding indicates that A ．longifolius occupied the understorey，together with some herbaceous ferns and seed ferns，in the early Permian peat-forming forest．A．longifolius had a longer living history in Cathaysia than in Euramerica，from the latest Mississippian to Lopingian．Their disappearance in the Euramerica is probably due to the drastic oscillations of climate in the low latitudes of Pangaea during the late Pennsylvanian to the Cisuralian．

中国科学院战略性先导科技专项项目(XDB18030404)；国家自然科学基金项目(41530101，41502006，41372010，41372011)；现代古生物学和地层学国家重点实验室自主性项目和基础性项目联合资助