Fossil Cyclanthus (Cyclanthaceae, Pandanales) from the Eocene of Germany and England
| Autor: | Margaret E. Collinson, Paula J. Rudall, Selena Y. Smith |
|---|---|
| Jazyk: | angličtina |
| Rok vydání: | 2008 |
| Předmět: |
Old World
biology Pandanales fossil monocotyledons ARACEAE Research Groups and Centres\Earth Sciences\Ancient and Modern Earth Systems Messel Plant Science exceptional preservation 'Scirpus' lakensis biology.organism_classification Research Groups and Centres\Earth Sciences\Plant Paleobiology Paleontology Cyclanthaceae Cyclanthus Research Groups and Centres\Earth Sciences\Geochemistry South american Middle Eocene Botany Genetics Faculty of Science\Earth Sciences Paleogene Ecology Evolution Behavior and Systematics Scirpus Cyclanthus fruits and seeds |
| Zdroj: | American Journal of Botany, 95 (6) |
| Popis: | The first known fossil fruits and seeds of Cyclanthaceae are described here. Cyclanthus messelensis sp. nov., from the Middle Eocene of Messel, Germany, has discoidal fruiting cycles up to 6 cm in diameter, with a central hole, radiating fiber strands, a thickened outer rim, and paratetracytic stomata. In situ seeds are up to 2 turn long, with an elongate micropylar end, a chalazal neck, and adpressed bands. The Messel fruits and seeds are nearly identical to those of Cyclanthus, differing in minor details of cuticular structure and seeds. The exceptional preservation at Messel (including in situ and isolated seeds) has also allowed us to establish the taxonomic affinity of isolated seeds ('Scirpus' lakensis) that are spatially and temporally widespread in the late Early and early Middle Eocene of southern England. Cyclanthus lakensis comb. nov. is described here as a morphotaxon for isolated fossil Cyclanthus seeds, preserved only as cuticular envelopes. Cyclanthus is another example of links between Eocene Europe and Recent South American floras because it is found today only from Mexico to South America. This material represents the first fossil fruits and seeds of Cyclanthus, which clearly was once growing in the Paleogene of the Old World. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
| Externí odkaz: |
|