Comparison of the in situ spores of the Early Cretaceous Schizaeaceous fern Ruffordia goep-perti (Dunk. ) Seward with the dispersed spores from the Lower Cretaceous indicates that the spores of R. goepperti are identical to Cicatricosisparties australiensis (Cookson) Potonie and C. minor (Bolch. ) Pocock both in the outlines and ornamentation. Besides, the megafossils and the dispersed spores have the similar stratigraphic and geographic distributions. Therefore, Ruffordia goepperti is the parent plant of Cicatricosisporites australiensis and C. minor and the latter one represents the unripe spores. The stratigraphic and paleoecologic significance of this relationship is discussed.