| Abstract Detail
Paleobotany Crepet, William Louis [1], Weeks, Andrea [2], NIXON, KEVIN C. [3]. A New Densely Armored Ericalean Floral Taxon from the Turonian of New Jersey USA. A new fossil angiosperm flower is described based on three dimensionally preserved fusainized flowers from Cretaceous (Turonian) deposits from Sayreville New Jersey, USA.This site is notable for its rich flora that includes mosses, ferns, gymnosperms and angiosperms as well as insects. The new taxon is represented by numerous fossil specimens. It is characterized by a pentamerous perianth, eight stamens alternating with eight staminodes, tricolpate finely rugulose pollen, a tricarpellate ovary, a distally three lobed style, slight bilateral symmetry, and a highly distinctive indumentum of peltate trichomes that cover all floral parts. Various phylogenetic analyses based on morphology alone or using a molecular scaffold suggest the fossils are part of the broadly defined ericalean clade. Within Ericales, fossils share distinctive floral trichomes with modern Styracaceae. This fossil taxon briongs into focus the impressive array of glandular and non-glandular trichomes found in Turonian and Santonian Ericales and raises questions about their functional roles at this early stage of asterid radiation.
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1 - Cornell University, Department Of Plant Biology, 413 Mann Library, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
2 - George Mason University, 4400 University Drive MSN 5F2, Fairfax, VA, 22030, USA
3 - Cornell University, L. H. BAILEY HORTORIUM, 408 MANN LIBRARY, ITHACA, NY, 14853-4301, USA, 607/255-4876
Keywords:
Cretaceous
armour
Ericales
Fossil flowers.
Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 25, Cretaceous/Cenozoic/collections paleobotany
Location: Sundance 3/Omni Hotel
Date: Tuesday, June 27th, 2017
Time: 11:00 AM
Number: 25004
Abstract ID:426
Candidate for Awards:None |
