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Achariaceae ( a – d ), Aizoaceae ( e – f ), Apiaceae ( g – l ). a , b Carpotroche amazonica. a Lateral view showing several transversely striate longitudinally oriented wings (BARC: B.A. Krukoff 9001), Sao Paulo, Brazil. b Basal view showing remnant perianth and about 20 wings. c Grandidiera boivinii Jaub. UC1218907: Tanner 3378, Tanganyika, Africa. d G. boivinii Jaub. (UC1233310: R.E.S. Tanner 3320), Tanganyika. e Tetragonia macroptera Pax. BOL128311 (ALUKA): R. Marloth 1427, Namibia. f T. fruticosa L. showing two of three wings (MO 566863: Slageren & Newton 628), South Africa. g , h Elaeoselinum fontanesii Bois. (GH: P. Jamin 35), Algeria. i Mericarp of Heracleum lanatum Michx. showing intramarginal vein and persistent epigynous perianth (NEBC: A. S. Pease 958), Coos Co., New Hampshire. j Mericarp of Peucedanum palustre (L.) Moench. showing ribbed endocarp and veinless wings (NEBC: L.E. Richardson sn), Middlesex Co., Massachussets. k Prangos ferulacea Lindl. (GH: J. Gay sn), Paris. l Fruit of Steganotaenia araliacea Hochst. with intact pedicel and style (A: R. Seydel 4460A), Karabib. Scales calibrated in mm
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Fin-winged fruits have two or more wings aligned with the longitudinal axis like the feathers of an arrow, as exemplified by Combretum, Halesia, and Ptelea. Such fruits vary in dispersal mode from those in which the fruit itself is the ultimate disseminule, to schizocarps dispersing two or more mericarps, to capsules releasing multiple seeds. At le...
Contexts in source publication
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... Endl. (Fig. 2a, b) includes three species of trees distributed in tropical America. The indehiscent fruit is formed from a superior ovary of multiple carpels, apparently with each carpel developing a marginal wing, such that a single fruit may have 6-20 wings. The fruits are globose to elliptical in outline, and relatively large, e.g. 7.8 cm long×7.1 cm ...
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... Jaub. (Fig. 2c, d) with three species of trees or shrubs in tropical Africa, has 4-to 6-winged indehiscent fruits bearing small ovoid seeds (Sleumer, 1975). The fruits are wide-elliptical to wide-obovate. The pedicel is relatively thick and is shed with the fruit; a hypogynous perianth scar is seen at the junction of pedicel with base of the fruit. The ...
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... The fruits of this family are typically loculicidal capsules, but those of Tetragonia L. are indehiscent and winged. Tetragonia (Fig. 2e, f), with about 85 species of shrubs, occurs in tropical and temperate regions of the Southern Hemisphere with a center of distribution in southern Africa. The wide-elliptical indehiscent 3-to 4-winged fruits develop from an inferior ovary. The wings are coriaceous with main veins fanning into the wings from the endocarp with a festooned ...
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... features, correspond with molecular cladograms giving added confidence to the taxonomic value of fruit characters in this group. The number of wings varies among different genera (Table 1). The wings are often hyaline, without venation, or with only a fimbrial vein, but in a few cases they are markedly striate (e.g., Elaeoselinum and Thapsia, Figs. 2g, h, 3a). Examples of genera with fin-winged fruits are described below; others not observed in this study are treated by Liu et al. ...
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... Cham. & Schltdl., endemic to Africa, has about 15 species of perennial herbs. A. macrocarpa ( Fig. 2B in Liu et al., 2006) is 7-winged, and asymmetrically schizocarpic, with three wings (a median and two marginal wings) on one mericarp, and four wings (two lateral and two marginal) on the other. The wings are without obvious ...
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... Koch. ex DC. (Fig. 2g, h) is a genus of four species distributed in the Mediterranean region. E. fontanesii Bois. has 4-winged fruits. The fusiform endocarp is longitudinal ribbed. The wings develop from furrows between ribs, with a pair of marginal wings on each mericarp ( Liu et al., 2006). The wings are markedly striate with striae fanning outward from the ...
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... L. (Fig. 2i) has about 65 species of biennial herbs distributed in north temperate areas and tropical mountains. The fruits have a persistent stylopodium and four wings in two parallel planes, schizocarpic between the planes. Each mericarp is obovate in outline with cuneate-rounded base and rounded to subcordate apex and shows an intramarginal ...
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... between the planes. Each mericarp is obovate in outline with cuneate-rounded base and rounded to subcordate apex and shows an intramarginal vein. The wings are finely striate between the locular area and intramarginal veins. Two to four longitudinal vittae are situated over the locular region, symmetrically about the central fruit axis (Fig. ...
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... Cham. & Schldl. has eight species of perennial herbs in tropical and South Africa. H. transvaalensis is 5-winged and asymmetrically schizocarpic, with three wings (one median and two marginal) on one mericarp and two marginal wings on the other (Fig. 2C in Liu et al., 2006). The wings each have a fimbrial ...
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... L. (Fig. 2j) has about 50 species of herbaceous perennials in Eurasia; ca 50 additional species from Africa formerly placed in this genus have been shown to be distinct, and are now placed in six additional genera (Winter et al., 2008;Magee et al., 2009). Peucedanum and the African segregates typically have mericarps with paired lateral wings that ...
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... B.L. Burtt is a monotypic genus of large woody shrubs endemic to the west Cape of Africa. P. marlothii fruits are 5-winged, and asymmetrically schizocarpic with three wings (one median and two marginal) on one mericarp and two lateral wings on the other ( Fig. 2A in Liu et al., ...
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... Lindley (Fig. 2k) is a genus of 38 species of tall, perennial herbs distributed in Eurasia and the Mediterranean. The fruits are 5-winged and elliptical. The pedicel is shed with the fruit, but styles and perianth do not persist. The wings, derived from ovary ribs, are coriaceous and appear to lack ...
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... Hochst. (Fig. 2l) is a genus of three species of small trees distributed from Ethiopia to South Africa. The fruits vary among species from only slightly to prominently winged (Hyde & Wursten, 2009). The 2-winged elliptical fruit develops from a 5-carpellate ovary and has a relatively thin and long persistent pedicel (see also Fig. 2-8I in Liu et al., ...
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... Hochst. (Fig. 2l) is a genus of three species of small trees distributed from Ethiopia to South Africa. The fruits vary among species from only slightly to prominently winged (Hyde & Wursten, 2009). The 2-winged elliptical fruit develops from a 5-carpellate ovary and has a relatively thin and long persistent pedicel (see also Fig. 2-8I in Liu et al., 2006). In S. araliacea Hochst. the endocarp is obovate with three prominent longitudinal ribs on the external face and capped by the persistent stylopodium. The wings are coriaceous and lacking venation and ...
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... fan outward from the locule and are craspedodromous to the fimbrial vein, with sinuous cross veins forming irregular polygonal areoles. Overlapping venation patterns indicate that the wings are bilamellate. We accept Becker's assignment of fossil fruits from the Oligocene of Montana to this genus (Becker, 1961; see "Evaluation of Fossil Fruits", Fig. ...
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... which is simple, subparallel, composed of fine veins radiating from the central area out to the margins with occasional dichotomies and anatomoses, and craspedodromous to a fimbrial vein (Fig. 9b). Major vein density is 1-3 per mm. We consider the fossil fruit genus Dodonaeites Saporta from the Oligocene of France ("Evaluation of Fossil Fruits," Fig. 21a-g) to be closely similar to ...
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... very sinuous, occasionally dichotomizing and anastomosing, craspedodromous to the fimbrial vein. These veins are spaced 1.4-1.6 per mm, with an intervening dense reticulum of finer veins with more or less isodiametric areoles (Fig. 10g). We now recognize fossil fruits from the Middle Eocene of western North America ("Evaluation of Fossil Fruits," Fig. ...
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... Hassk. (Fig. 12b) has 25 species of trees distributed from Burma to west Malesia. The fruits are 5-winged indehiscent samaras formed from a 2-10-carpellate ovary. Fruits of P. laxiflora are elliptical in outline, with perianth persisting at base, and two or more styles persisting at the apex. The relatively thin pedicel is dispersed with fruit. The ...
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... Nothofagus Bl. (Fig. 12c, d) nuts are typically trigonal, non-winged, but in some species wings develop along the marginal angles of the nut, as N. antarctica (Forst) Oerst. and N. obliqua (Mirb.) Oerst. The wings, developed from the ovary wall, are membranous and lack veins. Elsewhere in the Fagales, similar but reduced wings may occur on the trigonal nuts of ...
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... including Boerhavia L. and Selinocarpus (Nyctagineae: Boerhaviinae), Colignonia Endl. (Nyctagineae: Colig- noniinae), Phaeoptilum (Nyctagineae: Phaeoptilinae), Abronia (tribe Abronieae), and Grajalesia Miranda (tribe Pisonieae). Two distinct kinds of wing venation are expressed in the family: 1) dense subparallel and lacking a fimbrial vein (Fig. 12h), and 2) widely spaced major veins, with intervening fine reticulum and having a prominent fimbrial vein (Fig. ...
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... Phaeoptilum (Nyctagineae: Phaeoptilinae), Abronia (tribe Abronieae), and Grajalesia Miranda (tribe Pisonieae). Two distinct kinds of wing venation are expressed in the family: 1) dense subparallel and lacking a fimbrial vein (Fig. 12h), and 2) widely spaced major veins, with intervening fine reticulum and having a prominent fimbrial vein (Fig. ...
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... Juss. (Fig. 12e) has about 20 species of annual and perennial herbs in North America. The fruits of some species are not winged; others have two to five nearly opaque wings with subparallel veins oriented transverse to the long axis of the fruit, and with a fimbrial vein. The wings usually do not extend above and below the fruit body (Galloway, 2003). ...
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... Standl. (Fig. 12f) has one species of perennial herb living in the southwestern US and northern Mexico. It has small elliptical indehiscent fruits with 4-5 fin wings and a prominent apical bulge. The narrow pedicel usually is not shed with the fruit. The wings are membranous with fine, closely spaced subparallel veins (Nyctaginaceae type 1, see above) ...
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... Radlk. (Fig. 12g, h) has one species of shrub in southwestern Africa. The fruit is a 4-winged indehiscent anthocarp, elliptical in outline, square in cross section, with cordate base and apex. The wings, derived from accrescent tepals, are chartaceous and more or less semi-circular. The venation (Nyctaginaceae type 1) consists of straight to sinuous ...
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... A. Gray (Fig. 12i), with eight species of woody perennials in southwestern US and Mexico, is morphologically very similar to Acleisanthes A. Gray which has herbaceous perennials. Although molecular work fails to distinguish these genera, Selinocarpus species have characteristic five-winged fruits, unlike the ribbed but wingless fruits of Acleisanthes ( ...
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... Hook. (Fig. 12j, k) includes four North American species of perennial herbs. Some authors treat this genus within Abronia, but Galloway (1975Galloway ( , 2003 maintains them as distinct genera. The fruits have 2-4 membranous, translucent wings arising from a fusiform central body. In contrast with Abronia, the wings extend beyond the apex and base of the ...
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... translucent wings arising from a fusiform central body. In contrast with Abronia, the wings extend beyond the apex and base of the fusiform fruit body. Veins (type 2) fan outward from the central body, extending straight or with a few branches toward the margin, and entering a prominent fimbrial vein; with a finer mesh between the major veins (Fig. ...
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... fruits of Polygonaceae are readily recognized in the fossil record. Weyland (1937, p. 87, pl. 11, Fig. 1) documented a well preserved fruit from the late Oligocene of Rott, Germany, for which he erected the binomial Polygonocarpum . It is small, 3.5 mm long and 3 mm wide with at least two lateral wings and a recurved basal pair of sepals (Fig. 22f), similar to the situation in extant Oxyria. We now recognize new examples of polygonaceous fossil fruits from the Late Cretaceous and Paleocene of North America, which we present in "Evaluation of Fossil Fruits" (Figs. 22h-j, ...
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... Polygonocarpum . It is small, 3.5 mm long and 3 mm wide with at least two lateral wings and a recurved basal pair of sepals (Fig. 22f), similar to the situation in extant Oxyria. We now recognize new examples of polygonaceous fossil fruits from the Late Cretaceous and Paleocene of North America, which we present in "Evaluation of Fossil Fruits" (Figs. 22h-j, ...
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... Ptelea samaras from North America were critically examined by Call and Dilcher (1995). They found a combination of three features to be particularly important in identifying the fruits of this genus: 1) Superior ovary demonstrated by Proctor 15652), Jamaica. j Detail from d, scars on pedicel typical of Rutaceae. ...
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... diverging veins extending medially through the lower half of the samara forming a coarse transversely oriented reticulum over the surface of the fruit body and a radiating looping reticulate pattern on the wings. We recognize an additional species from the Eocene of North America, P. paliuroides (Brown) comb n. ("Evaluation of Fossil Fruits," Fig. ...
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... area, with a persistent style. The schizocarps split into three mericarps which each retain part of the style. Main veins are straight, subparallel with occasional dichotomies, and anastomoses, craspedodromous to the fimbrial vein. We recognize a fossil species of this genus from the Eocene of Mississippi, USA ("Evaluation of Fossil Fruits," Fig. ...
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... Combretaceae Small fin-winged fruits from the Cretaceous (Albian to Cenomanian) Dakota Formation of Kansas and Nebraska show features character- istic of Combretaceae (Fig. 20a-e). Differentially fractured specimens indicate that the fruits have four symmetrically arranged equal wings arising from a fusiform fruit body. We establish a new genus and species for this ...
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... vein absent; wings frequently torn parallel to the venation giving frayed margin. Remnants of epigynous perianth at the apex. The basal end of the fruit, below the position of wings, narrowed into a pedicel-like structure 1.5 to 2.0 mm long, with no obvious scars. Holotype. UF15709-11023 (Braun Ranch, Cloud Co., Kansas, UF locality 15709) (Fig. 20d, e). Paratypes. UF15709-5326, 5330, 11024, 11025, 14954, 23764, 25005 (Braun Ranch, Cloud Co., Kansas), UF19025-39054 (Decatur, ...
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... ulmiformis Dorf (1942) from the Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) of Wyoming and Montana are likely to represent Apicaceae. They have an obovate-elliptical fruit body with a pair of prominent lateral wings and clearly show a persistent epigynous perianth of several equal tepals fused basally into a short tube that arises the top of the fruit (Fig. 20f, g). A prominent fimbrial vein outlines each wing (Fig. 20f-k), but venation fanning across the wing from the obovate central body is fine and inconspicuous. The fruit body is traversed by a straight median longitudinal vein and four additional longitudinal veins symmetrically placed on either side of the median vein. The outline of the ...
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... of Wyoming and Montana are likely to represent Apicaceae. They have an obovate-elliptical fruit body with a pair of prominent lateral wings and clearly show a persistent epigynous perianth of several equal tepals fused basally into a short tube that arises the top of the fruit (Fig. 20f, g). A prominent fimbrial vein outlines each wing (Fig. 20f-k), but venation fanning across the wing from the obovate central body is fine and inconspicuous. The fruit body is traversed by a straight median longitudinal vein and four additional longitudinal veins symmetrically placed on either side of the median vein. The outline of the fruit is cordate apically and rounded to cuneate basally. ...
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... the obovate central body is fine and inconspicuous. The fruit body is traversed by a straight median longitudinal vein and four additional longitudinal veins symmetrically placed on either side of the median vein. The outline of the fruit is cordate apically and rounded to cuneate basally. These disseminules resemble the mericarps of Apiaceae (Figs. 2g-l, 3a) in the position and symmetry of wings, epigynous perianth, and straight, well spaced longitudinal veins across the fruit ...
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... must be acknowledged that some of these same features are also found in the unrelated Dioscoreaceae; however, C. ulmiformis fossils appear to have only two wings rather than three as expected in Dioscoreaceae. Although multiple epigynous tepals are visible in the fossil (Fig. 20f, g), it is not clear from the specimens at hand whether the number of tepals in the fossils were five (consistent with Apicaceae), or six (conforming to Dioscoreaceae). One of the features that helps to distinguish these fossils from Dioscoreaceae is the presence and position of longitudinal veins on the fruit body. Examination of the ...
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... or six (conforming to Dioscoreaceae). One of the features that helps to distinguish these fossils from Dioscoreaceae is the presence and position of longitudinal veins on the fruit body. Examination of the both counterpart impressions of the same fossil fruit show five veins on one side, but only a single median vein on the opposite side ( Fig. 20i vs j, and Fig. 20h vs k). This asymmetral pattern suggests that these disseminules are mericarps of the kind typical for Apiaceae, with three or five longitudinal veins occurring on the dorsal side of each mericarp but only a single vein running medially on the ventral side. This combination of characters provides strong support for the assignment of Carpites ...
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... side of each mericarp but only a single vein running medially on the ventral side. This combination of characters provides strong support for the assignment of Carpites ulmiformis to the Apiaceae. However, veins of the wings are stronger and more widely spaced than those observed in otherwise similar fruits of the similar extant genera (e.g., Figs. 2g, ...
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... Brassicaceae Thlaspi primaevum Becker (1961) from the early Oligocene of western Montana was reexamined for this study. The fruit (Fig. 21h-k) is elliptical with a pair of symmetrical wings. The locular area is elliptical to fusiform, and bisected by a vertical septum at right angles to the plane of the wings, and contains the impressions of several seeds ornamented with concentric ridges. The base and apex of the fruit are rounded, except for a pronounced apical notch. The ...
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... Fabaceae Dodonaeites descaisnei de Saporta (1865), a fossil fruit from the Oligocene of Armissan, France (Fig. 21a-c, e-g) and early Oligocene Tard Clay of Budapest, Hungary (Fig. 21d), appears to represent a fin-winged fruit of Fabaceae, and is almost identical in morphology to Fissicalyx. It is unilocular with a single seed, a single straight median rib over the fusiform locular area; it is stipitate, and has a pair of symmetrical wings with fine ...
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... Fabaceae Dodonaeites descaisnei de Saporta (1865), a fossil fruit from the Oligocene of Armissan, France (Fig. 21a-c, e-g) and early Oligocene Tard Clay of Budapest, Hungary (Fig. 21d), appears to represent a fin-winged fruit of Fabaceae, and is almost identical in morphology to Fissicalyx. It is unilocular with a single seed, a single straight median rib over the fusiform locular area; it is stipitate, and has a pair of symmetrical wings with fine subparallel veins spaced 3-5 per mm. Features shared between ...
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... to represent a fin-winged fruit of Fabaceae, and is almost identical in morphology to Fissicalyx. It is unilocular with a single seed, a single straight median rib over the fusiform locular area; it is stipitate, and has a pair of symmetrical wings with fine subparallel veins spaced 3-5 per mm. Features shared between Dodonaeites descaisnei (Fig. 21a-g) and extant Fissicalyx fendleri (Fig. 9a, b) include presence of a stipe, bisymmetry, indehiscence, two wings, a narrow, fusiform locular area, a single seed per fruit, and no ribs over the locular area, other than the prominent midrib extending the full length of the fruit. Both have an emarginate apex, with protruding persistent ...
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... UF262-17682, Clarno Formation, White Cliffs, Jefferson County, Oregon (Fig. 22c, d). Paratypes. UF 238-19901, 19905, 19907, 19908, 262-17746 (Clarno Formation, Oregon), DMNH 24518, UCMP PA 20645, 20669, USNM sn, (Green River Formation, Colorado). Diagnosis. Fruits widely elliptical, about twice as wide as high (23-28 mm wide and 12-13 mm high), with two wings spreading in a common plane. Apex rounded without stylar ...
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... (Illigera spp.; Fig. 10f, g). The wide spacing of the veins, lack of fimbrial vein, and straight axial bundle in the axis of bisymmetry rule out affinities with Terminalia. These fossils do not show any evidence of hypogynous perianth (which would be expected to persist as a swelling or scars at the junction of the pedicel in specimens like Fig. 22b). If the fruits developed from flowers with epigynous perianth, as suggested by the v-shaped structure at the apex (Fig. 22b) and absence of scars between the pedicel and base of the fruit, then they cannot represent Ptelea, Spathelia, or other Rutaceae or ...
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... of bisymmetry rule out affinities with Terminalia. These fossils do not show any evidence of hypogynous perianth (which would be expected to persist as a swelling or scars at the junction of the pedicel in specimens like Fig. 22b). If the fruits developed from flowers with epigynous perianth, as suggested by the v-shaped structure at the apex (Fig. 22b) and absence of scars between the pedicel and base of the fruit, then they cannot represent Ptelea, Spathelia, or other Rutaceae or ...
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... the plane of bisymmetry. Illigera fruits develop from inferior ovaries, as is also inferred for the fossil. In addition, Illigera fruits can develop one or two small wings in addition to the two main ones, as has been demonstrated to occur in the fossil species as well (compare small median wing of Fig. 10f, with that exposed in the specimen of Fig. ...
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... Polygonaceae Fin-winged fruits of Polygonaceae have long been recognized in the fossil record. Heer (1859) named Polygonum antiquum based on fin-winged fruits of Polygonaceae as from the Miocene of Oenigen, Switzerland (an example is refigured here, Fig. 22g). Polygonocarpum fimbriatum Weyland (1937) from the late Oligocene of Rott, Germany, is confidently placed in the family. The species had small fruits 3.5 mm long and 3 mm wide with at least two lateral wings and a recurved basal pair of sepals (Fig. 22f). It is similar in morphology to fruits of extant Oxyria (Fig. 14c) and ...
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... of Polygonaceae as from the Miocene of Oenigen, Switzerland (an example is refigured here, Fig. 22g). Polygonocarpum fimbriatum Weyland (1937) from the late Oligocene of Rott, Germany, is confidently placed in the family. The species had small fruits 3.5 mm long and 3 mm wide with at least two lateral wings and a recurved basal pair of sepals (Fig. 22f). It is similar in morphology to fruits of extant Oxyria (Fig. 14c) and Parapteropyrum. It is now possible to extend the fossil record of Polygonaceae considerably farther back in time based on fossil fruits from the Late Cretaceous and Paleocene of North ...
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... DMNH 16608 (Fig. 22i, j), Slope County, North Dakota, DMNH locality 2087. Paratype. YPM 6173 (Fig. 22h), Slope County, North Dakota, DMNH locality 2087. Etymology. The species is named for Dr. Kirk Johnson, who collected the specimens and made them available for this study. Diagnosis. Fruit an elliptical to nearly circular samara, 6.5-9.5 mm high, 6.5- 8.2 mm ...
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... DMNH 16608 (Fig. 22i, j), Slope County, North Dakota, DMNH locality 2087. Paratype. YPM 6173 (Fig. 22h), Slope County, North Dakota, DMNH locality 2087. Etymology. The species is named for Dr. Kirk Johnson, who collected the specimens and made them available for this study. Diagnosis. Fruit an elliptical to nearly circular samara, 6.5-9.5 mm high, 6.5- 8.2 mm wide, with emarginate apex and base. Two (possibly 3?) lateral wings spreading ...
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... additional representives of Polygonaceae are recognized from the Paleocene of North America (Fig. 23). Fruits similar to those of Polygonocarpum johnsonii occur in the Paleocene of Wyoming and North Dakota. Numerous specimens are available for study and transverse sections reveal that they are consistently 3-winged and indehiscent. Although it is possible that they could represent a temporal extension of the species P. johnsonii into ...
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... curtisii sp. n. Fig. 23a-g Holotype. UF15722-22554 (Fig. 23a). Paratypes. UF15722-22548, 22558. Etymology. This species is named in honor of John Curtis, who collected many of the specimens examined from the locality near Almont, North Dakota. Diagnosis. Fruits wide-elliptical with emarginate base and apex, 9-10 mm high and 12-14 mm wide, with three radially ...
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... curtisii sp. n. Fig. 23a-g Holotype. UF15722-22554 (Fig. 23a). Paratypes. UF15722-22548, 22558. Etymology. This species is named in honor of John Curtis, who collected many of the specimens examined from the locality near Almont, North Dakota. Diagnosis. Fruits wide-elliptical with emarginate base and apex, 9-10 mm high and 12-14 mm wide, with three radially arranged vertical wings. Fruit body a ...
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... longitudinal veins traversing the full length of the fruit body. Pedicel narrow (0.3 mm), about 4 mm long (Crane et al., 1990, Fig. 23i). Wings chartaceous, with a dense anastomosing network of fine venation. ...
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... curtisii is common in the silicified shales of Almont, North Dakota ( Crane et al., 1990, p. 35, 36, Fig. 23a-g). Because the fruits are often preserved flattened in shale, they may at first appear to have only two lateral wings. Brown (1962) attributed one such specimen from the Paleocene of Alkali Butte, Wyoming to Ulmus (Brown, 1962, pl. 24, Fig. 17 as Ulmus rhamnifolia; refigured here, Fig. 23j). However, transverse sections of ...
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... of Almont, North Dakota ( Crane et al., 1990, p. 35, 36, Fig. 23a-g). Because the fruits are often preserved flattened in shale, they may at first appear to have only two lateral wings. Brown (1962) attributed one such specimen from the Paleocene of Alkali Butte, Wyoming to Ulmus (Brown, 1962, pl. 24, Fig. 17 as Ulmus rhamnifolia; refigured here, Fig. 23j). However, transverse sections of permineralized specimens indicate that they bore three wings, one of which often remains hidden in the sediment behind the two wings exposed in the original fracture ...
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... antiqua sp. n. Fig. 23h-m Holotype. FMNH-PP45598 (Fig. 23h, k-m). Paratype. YPM 54383 (Fig. 23i). Diagnosis. Fruits obovate with emarginate apex and cuneate base, 13-18 mm high, 8-10.5 mm wide, with three wings. The fruit body is an elliptical, single- seeded endocarp 2.5-3.3 mm wide to 3-4 mm high, subtriangular in cross section. The pedicel is narrow (ca 0.2 ...
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... antiqua sp. n. Fig. 23h-m Holotype. FMNH-PP45598 (Fig. 23h, k-m). Paratype. YPM 54383 (Fig. 23i). Diagnosis. Fruits obovate with emarginate apex and cuneate base, 13-18 mm high, 8-10.5 mm wide, with three wings. The fruit body is an elliptical, single- seeded endocarp 2.5-3.3 mm wide to 3-4 mm high, subtriangular in cross section. The pedicel is narrow (ca 0.2 mm) and joins the base of the fruit ...
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... antiqua sp. n. Fig. 23h-m Holotype. FMNH-PP45598 (Fig. 23h, k-m). Paratype. YPM 54383 (Fig. 23i). Diagnosis. Fruits obovate with emarginate apex and cuneate base, 13-18 mm high, 8-10.5 mm wide, with three wings. The fruit body is an elliptical, single- seeded endocarp 2.5-3.3 mm wide to 3-4 mm high, subtriangular in cross section. The pedicel is narrow (ca 0.2 mm) and joins the base of the fruit without articulation. Wings ...
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... articulation. Wings chartaceous, with a dense anastomosing network of fine venation. Fimbrial vein lacking. A funnel-like fold of wing tissue representing part of the perianth occurs at the apex with three or more protruding filaments and or style remnants. This fruit type, which Brown (1962, referring to the specimen reillustrated here in Fig. 23j) considered to represent Ulmus, was treated by Crane et al. (1990) simply as "biwinged fruit". More specimens have been collected since those publications, and it is now clear that the fruits were 3-winged rather than just two, as can be seen in obliquely fractured and tranversely sectioned (Fig. 23k) specimens. P. antiqua co- occurs ...
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... referring to the specimen reillustrated here in Fig. 23j) considered to represent Ulmus, was treated by Crane et al. (1990) simply as "biwinged fruit". More specimens have been collected since those publications, and it is now clear that the fruits were 3-winged rather than just two, as can be seen in obliquely fractured and tranversely sectioned (Fig. 23k) specimens. P. antiqua co- occurs with Polygonocarpus curtisii, but does not have intramarginal veins and has an acute rather than emarginate base. It corresponds closely in size and morphology and wing venation to extant Podopterus (Fig. 14g). Another example that apparently represents this genus is preserved in amber from the Miocene ...
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... Malvaceae Fin-winged fruits of Craigia were widespread in the Tertiary of the Northern Hemisphere and have been traced to the Eocene in eastern Asia and western North America ( Kvaček et al., 2005). We have reexamined the type specimen of the species Berry (1930) assigned to Ptelea eocenica, from Grand Junction, Tennessee (Fig. 24a). The pedicel is much to thick to be that of Ptelea, however, and appears to have supplied a multivalved fruit. The pedicel is similar in thickness to, and has a similar perianth scar to the fruits of extant Craigia (Fig. 11h) and Maxwellia (Fig. 12a). The fusiform locular area, and organization of venation is also similar to these ...
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... specimen of the species Berry (1930) assigned to Ptelea eocenica, from Grand Junction, Tennessee (Fig. 24a). The pedicel is much to thick to be that of Ptelea, however, and appears to have supplied a multivalved fruit. The pedicel is similar in thickness to, and has a similar perianth scar to the fruits of extant Craigia (Fig. 11h) and Maxwellia (Fig. 12a). The fusiform locular area, and organization of venation is also similar to these genera, but we hesitate to make a formal generic reassignment based on the single available ...
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... gen. n. Rainbowia rhamnoides sp. n. Fig. 24b, c Holotype. DMNH 24492 (Fig. 24b). Paratypes. UF18054-22809 (Fig. 24c). Etymology. This genus is named for the town of Rainbow, Utah, situtated near the localities from which these fossils were collected. The species refers to the similarity with Rhamnaceae. Diagnosis. Fruit valves are cordate, with a retuse apex, base obtuse except for ...
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... gen. n. Rainbowia rhamnoides sp. n. Fig. 24b, c Holotype. DMNH 24492 (Fig. 24b). Paratypes. UF18054-22809 (Fig. 24c). Etymology. This genus is named for the town of Rainbow, Utah, situtated near the localities from which these fossils were collected. The species refers to the similarity with Rhamnaceae. Diagnosis. Fruit valves are cordate, with a retuse apex, base obtuse except for the narrowed, stipitate proximal ...
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... gen. n. Rainbowia rhamnoides sp. n. Fig. 24b, c Holotype. DMNH 24492 (Fig. 24b). Paratypes. UF18054-22809 (Fig. 24c). Etymology. This genus is named for the town of Rainbow, Utah, situtated near the localities from which these fossils were collected. The species refers to the similarity with Rhamnaceae. Diagnosis. Fruit valves are cordate, with a retuse apex, base obtuse except for the narrowed, stipitate proximal end. Each valve or mericarp with two ...
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... paliuruoides (Brown) comb. n. Fig. 24d-g Basionym. Carpolithus paliuroides Brown 1934, p. 67, pl. 15, Fig. 12. Description. Fruit orbicular to more or less cordate, with a cuneate obtuse to right- angle base and slightly retuse apex, (10-)15-16 mm high and (10-)15-19 mm wide, similar in height and width, with two (or more?) wings symmetrical about the median axis. In face ...
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... paliuruoides (Brown) comb. n. Fig. 24d-g Basionym. Carpolithus paliuroides Brown 1934, p. 67, pl. 15, Fig. 12. Description. Fruit orbicular to more or less cordate, with a cuneate obtuse to right- angle base and slightly retuse apex, (10-)15-16 mm high and (10-)15-19 mm wide, similar in height and width, with two (or more?) wings symmetrical about the median axis. In face view, a coarse vascular bundle extends straight from the pedicel to the ...
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... and (10-)15-19 mm wide, similar in height and width, with two (or more?) wings symmetrical about the median axis. In face view, a coarse vascular bundle extends straight from the pedicel to the style bisecting the locular area which is positioned near the center of the fruit. Each locule bearing at least one large elliptical smooth rounded seed (Fig. 24f). Pedicel, relatively narrow (0.2 mm thick) and 4-6 mm long. A thickened disk/perianth scar at junction between pedicel and fruit. A thin stylar protrusion, ca 1 mm long, sometimes persisting. A moderately strong, sinuous vein outlining the locular area. Venation across the wing irregularly sinuous, with smaller irregular cross veins ...
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... mm long. A thickened disk/perianth scar at junction between pedicel and fruit. A thin stylar protrusion, ca 1 mm long, sometimes persisting. A moderately strong, sinuous vein outlining the locular area. Venation across the wing irregularly sinuous, with smaller irregular cross veins forming subangular, more or less isodiametric polygonal areoles (Fig. 24d, e, g). Fimbrial vein present. Wing area dotted with dark spots, 10-20 μm ...
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... species is based on rare fin-winged fruits from the Middle Eocene Parachute Creek Member of the Green River Formation of Colorado and Utah. The prominent scar at top of pedicel (Fig. 24d, e, g) indicates that this fruit developed from a hypogynous perianth. Candidate families with hypogynous perianth and fin-winged fruits with at least two wings include Zygophyllaceae, Sapindaceae, Malvaceae and Brassicaceae. Because only complete specimens have been found (no mericarps), we infer that the fruits were nonschizocarpic, which ...
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... holotype of this species (Fig. 24g) is smaller and more rounded than the three specimens recovered more recently (Fig. 24d-f), but we believe all of these specimens represent the same species because of the similarities of wing venation, narrow pedicel and prominent perianth ...
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... holotype of this species (Fig. 24g) is smaller and more rounded than the three specimens recovered more recently (Fig. 24d-f), but we believe all of these specimens represent the same species because of the similarities of wing venation, narrow pedicel and prominent perianth ...
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... UF 15737-30660 (Fig. 24k). Paratype. UF 15737-30661 (Fig. 24l, m). Locality. Bovay Clay Pit, Holly Springs, Mississippi. Diagnosis. Fruit widely elliptical, 15-16 mm high, 30 mm wide (nearly twice as wide as high), schizocarpic, falling into at least two singly winged mericarps. Locular area, comprising 1/2 to 2/3 the width of the fruit, inflated; the remaining ...
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... UF 15737-30660 (Fig. 24k). Paratype. UF 15737-30661 (Fig. 24l, m). Locality. Bovay Clay Pit, Holly Springs, Mississippi. Diagnosis. Fruit widely elliptical, 15-16 mm high, 30 mm wide (nearly twice as wide as high), schizocarpic, falling into at least two singly winged mericarps. Locular area, comprising 1/2 to 2/3 the width of the fruit, inflated; the remaining distal portion forms the wings. Each ...
Context 83
... scar and the remainder of the fruit. Venation consists of main veins spreading into the wings, with frequent dichotomies and anastomoses, craspedodromous to a fimbrial vein. This species, from the Eocene of Mississippi, is represented by only two specimens, one predehiscent with an intact pedicel and a rounded seed visible within each locule (Fig. 24k), and the other a dispersed mericarp retaining a portion of the stylar projection (Fig. 24l). The combination of superior ovary, stout pedicel, inflated locules and schizocarpy occurs among some genera of Sapindaceae, Brassicaceae, and Zygophyllaceae. The combination of fruit morphology, wing venation, and seed shape are best matched by ...
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... wings, with frequent dichotomies and anastomoses, craspedodromous to a fimbrial vein. This species, from the Eocene of Mississippi, is represented by only two specimens, one predehiscent with an intact pedicel and a rounded seed visible within each locule (Fig. 24k), and the other a dispersed mericarp retaining a portion of the stylar projection (Fig. 24l). The combination of superior ovary, stout pedicel, inflated locules and schizocarpy occurs among some genera of Sapindaceae, Brassicaceae, and Zygophyllaceae. The combination of fruit morphology, wing venation, and seed shape are best matched by the extant sapindaceous genus Bridgesia (Fig. 17g). This identification has interesting ...
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... fossil genus Brachyruscus Cockerell was based on the specimen in Fig. 24h from the Late Eocene Florissant beds of Colorado. Cockerell (1922) considered it to be a liliaceous flowering cladode, but closer examination of the type specimen, and other subsequently recovered specimens, shows features characteristic of fin-winged fruits (Fig. 24h-j). The fruit is obovate to cordate, basally decurrent into a short ...
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... fossil genus Brachyruscus Cockerell was based on the specimen in Fig. 24h from the Late Eocene Florissant beds of Colorado. Cockerell (1922) considered it to be a liliaceous flowering cladode, but closer examination of the type specimen, and other subsequently recovered specimens, shows features characteristic of fin-winged fruits (Fig. 24h-j). The fruit is obovate to cordate, basally decurrent into a short stipe, with a pair of wings symmetrical about the central axis. A single bean shaped seed is observed on each side of the midline, in the middle part of the fruit. A widened scar at junction of pedicel and fruit indicates a hypogynous perianth. The general organization of ...
Citations
... However, they have high stability and possess many diagnostic features useful for identification (Friis et al. 2011;Tan et al. 2018). These diagnostic features -encompass size, number of wings, patterns of wing venation, wing shape and position, persistence of style(s) and pedicel, placentation type, seed number and orientation, position of micropyle and raphe, and epidermal anatomy -exhibit exceptional stability at the level of family and genus (Tiffney 1990;Manchester and O' Leary 2010;Tan et al. 2018). Therefore, these characteristics can be used as an important basis for plant morphological classification (Augspurger 1986(Augspurger , 1988Manchester and O' Leary 2010;Friis et al. 2011;Wang et al. 2012). ...
... These diagnostic features -encompass size, number of wings, patterns of wing venation, wing shape and position, persistence of style(s) and pedicel, placentation type, seed number and orientation, position of micropyle and raphe, and epidermal anatomy -exhibit exceptional stability at the level of family and genus (Tiffney 1990;Manchester and O' Leary 2010;Tan et al. 2018). Therefore, these characteristics can be used as an important basis for plant morphological classification (Augspurger 1986(Augspurger , 1988Manchester and O' Leary 2010;Friis et al. 2011;Wang et al. 2012). ...
... Malpighiaceae originated in South America, and most American genera show winged mericarps Manchester and O' Leary 2010). Malpighiaceae spread to Laurasia through the North Atlantic Bridge and eventually reached Africa and tropical Asia today (Davis et al. 2001Qian and Ren 2016). ...
... Wing characteristics, such as size, shape, venation pattern, and wing position, are important diagnostic features for identifying winged fruit fossils (Manchester & O'Leary, 2010). Among extant species of Pterocarya, P. fraxinifolia (Poiret) Spach, P. hupehensis Skan (Fig. 4B), P. macroptera Batalin (Fig. 4C) and P. rhoifolia Siebold & Zuccarini (Fig. 4D) have fruits with two laterally adjoining broad wings (Kozlowski et al., 2018), which are morphologically similar to the new species described here. ...
The Juglandaceae family experienced significant diversification during the early Tertiary, as evidenced by fossil records showing a broad expansion of both extant and extinct taxa. The genus Pterocarya is characterized by its distinctive fruit with butterfly-shaped wings and a small nutlet. Macrofossil records suggest that this genus was distributed widely in the Northern Hemisphere. However, the fossil record of Pterocarya in China is limited. In this study, we describe a well-preserved Pterocarya fossil winged fruit from the middle-upper member of the Niubao Formation (the upper Eocene) of the central Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, China. The winged fruit is identified as Pterocarya liae sp. nov. based on detailed morphological comparison, representing the earliest known record of Pterocarya winged fruit in Asia. The new finding extends the paleobiogeographic distribution of Pterocarya during the Eocene and provides new insights into the early stage of the diversification of this genus.
... Angiosperm winged fruits can be identified on the basis of size, shape, number, and position of wings; patterns of wing venation; the persistence of style(s) and pedicel; placentation type; size, shape, and number of nuts; seed number and orientation; positions of the micropyle and raphe; and epidermal anatomy (Manchester and O'Leary 2010;Xu et al. 2021). As described above, our fossil is characterized by five unequal wings with an obconic or spherical nut; the wings are narrowly elliptic or obovate with obtuse apexes and constricted bases; the venation is pinnate; brochidodromous secondary veins branching from midvein at 307-407; mixed percurrent tertiary veins and irregular reticulate quaternary veins. ...
... Systematic placement. Manchester and O'Leary (2010) recognized fin-winged fruits with epigynous perianth in Aizoaceae, Apiaceae, Begoniaceae, Burmanniaceae, Combretaceae, Cucurbitaceae, Dioscoreaceae, Lecythidaceae, Haloragaceae, Hernandiaceae, Onagraceae, and Styracaceae. Most of these families can be ruled out by the presence of fruits with a larger number of wings (i.e., 2-7) and different fruit types (i.e., samaroid, schizocarp, pseudosamara; Manchester and O'Leary 2010). ...
... 1-4); however, they are crowned with a persistent epigynous disk, and the wings are strongly reticulate. Burmanniaceae, also in Dioscoreales, have capsular three-winged fruits without obvious striation or venation on the wings, but unlike Dioscorea and the new fossil species, the fruits have semielliptical wings that persist on a strongly winged floral tube (Manchester and O'Leary 2010). We do not recognize any other angiosperm families, other than Dioscoreaceae, with fruits having the same characteristics seen in D. lindgrenii and D. shermanii fruits. ...
... The lateral membranous expansions of fruits, usually called wings (e.g., Humphries, 1979;Cron et al., 2009;Bello et al., 2013), have long been believed to exclusively serve dispersal functions (e.g., Manchester and O'Leary, 2010). In A. clavatus, we herein show that these wings (Figure 1) play a significant role in water absorption and, thus, in germination activation. ...
Premise
The lateral membranous expansions of fruits, commonly referred to as wings, have long been theorized to serve only dispersal functions. Alternatively, because winged fruits typically have earlier seed germination than unwinged fruits, we hypothesized that wings could increase the contact surface with water, ultimately triggering earlier germination.
Methods
We investigated this alternative hypothesis by exploring the potential role of fruit wings on germination in the heterocarpic species Anacyclus clavatus (Desf.) Pers. (Asteraceae), which produces both winged and unwinged fruits. First, we measured the speed and degree of water absorption in winged and unwinged fruits. Second, we investigated the effects of wings on germination performance, by either reducing wing size or by preventing water absorption by sealing wings with wax. Next, we tested the influence of water availability on the germination performance of winged and unwinged fruits by reducing the water potential.
Results
Winged fruits absorbed more water at a faster rate than unwinged fruits. The sealing of wings delayed germination, whereas germination time was not significantly altered by wing cutting. The restriction of water availability by decreasing water potential significantly delayed seed germination of unwinged fruits, whereas winged fruits remained unaffected.
Conclusions
Altogether, our results support the effect of wings on germination and cast doubt on the unique role of wings in dispersal. Whether or not wings contribute to dispersal, we propose that they also improve seed germination and seedling establishment by facilitating water absorption after the release from their mother plants.
... Remarks: This fruit shows clear analogies with those present in some representatives of the family Dioscoreaceae (Manchester and O'Leary, 2010;Raz, 2017). Concretely, the fruit shows similarities in shape, structure and margin with the species Dioscoreaecarpum marginatum from the lower Oligocene of Hungary (Andreánszky, 1959) and Dioscorea manchesteri from the early Miocene flora of North Bohemia (Czech Republic) (Kvaček, 2019). ...
... Likewise, the presence of taxa related to the Dioscoraceae family (aff. Dioscoreaecarpum) is compatible with the warm and wet climate inferred at Els Cardscolers site for the early Miocene (Manchester and O'Leary, 2010). Regarding Engelhardia orsbergensis, it was a tree whose leaflets are often found in the same fossil assemblages together with Myrica (Erdei et al., 2007;Knor et al., 2015;Hably et al., 2019;Traiser et al., 2019;Kvaček and Hurník, 2000). ...
... Malpighiaceae is characterized by an unparalleled diversity of winged fruits in angiosperms (Anderson et al. 2006;Manchester and O'Leary 2010;. Winged mericarps are an adaption for wind dispersal of fruits , suggesting that such morphological adaptations have significantly facilitated long-distance dispersal and speciation (Davis et al. 2001(Davis et al. , 2002Tan et al. 2018Tan et al. , 2019. ...
Hiptage stenopterum K.Tan & M.X.Ren, a new species of Hiptage collected from a deep valley close to the Nujiang Gorge, northwest of Yunnan Province, China, is described and illustrated based on molecular and morphological data. The new species was found isolated in an entrenched valley of the Laowo River, a tributary of the Nujiang River, at the northern edge of the distribution range of the genus. H. stenopterum shares some morphological similarities with the narrowly endemic H. incurvatum and H. lushuiensis . However, H. stenopterum is easily distinguished by its oblanceolate lateral wing of winged mericarp, 10 to 12 calyx glands, and branchlets densely rusty tomentose. The new species status is also supported by molecular phylogenetic analyses based on nuclear ribosome internal transcribed spacer (nrITS), which showed distinct systematic boundaries from the most morphologically similar species, H. incurvatum and their morphological relatives, H. lushuiensis .
... The topology of the ASTRAL tree and the concatenation of the 132 single-copy gene sequences were used. Two fossils were employed as minimum-age calibrations, including Polygonocarpum johnsonii (>66 mya) which calibrates the crown node of Polygonaceae 80,81 and Aldrovanda intermediata (>41.2 mya) which calibrates the crown node of Aldrovanda + Dionaea 80,82 . The calculations were performed using MCMCTree module (clock = 2 sampfreq = 1000 nsample = 50000000) as implemented in PAML v4.9e 83 . ...
Glasshouse plants are species that trap warmth via specialized morphology and physiology, mimicking a human glasshouse. In the Himalayan alpine region, the highly specialized glasshouse morphology has independently evolved in distinct lineages to adapt to intensive UV radiation and low temperature. Here we demonstrate that the glasshouse structure – specialized cauline leaves – is highly effective in absorbing UV light but transmitting visible and infrared light, creating an optimal microclimate for the development of reproductive organs. We reveal that this glasshouse syndrome has evolved at least three times independently in the rhubarb genus Rheum. We report the genome sequence of the flagship glasshouse plant Rheum nobile and identify key genetic network modules in association with the morphological transition to specialized glasshouse leaves, including active secondary cell wall biogenesis, upregulated cuticular cutin biosynthesis, and suppression of photosynthesis and terpenoid biosynthesis. The distinct cell wall organization and cuticle development might be important for the specialized optical property of glasshouse leaves. We also find that the expansion of LTRs has likely played an important role in noble rhubarb adaptation to high elevation environments. Our study will enable additional comparative analyses to identify the genetic basis underlying the convergent occurrence of glasshouse syndrome.
... Fossil flowers dating from the late Cretaceaous (Coniacian; Barbosa, 1981) assigned to genus Esgueiria have been found in Japan (Takahashi et al., 1999a,b) and in Portugal (Teixeira & Zbyszewski, 1976). Fossil fruits also confirm the presence of Combretaceae in North America in the mid-Cretaceous (Dilcherocarpon; Manchester & O'Leary, 2010) and in Asia in the Late Cretaceous (Gyrocarpusocarpon ;Mistri & Kapgate, 1990). Despite the extensive fossil record and the strong support it could provide for the inference of ancestral range in the family, few attempts to analyse the past distribution of Combretaceae have been performed. ...
... We applied this approach to the best maximum likelihood phylogenetic tree obtained from the concatenated, partitioned phylogenetic analysis of all genes produced using RAxML (version 8.2.12; Stamatakis, 2014) with the GTRCAT model assigned to each partition (1000 bootstrap replicates). We used three calibration points: the stem node of tribe Combreteae (crown node of Combretaceae) was assigned a minimum age of 93.9 Ma based on the mid-Cretaceous macrofossil Dilcherocarpon combretoides (Manchester & O'Leary, 2010); the crown node of Terminalia comprising nine species was assigned a minimum age of 5 Ma from the oldest known Terminalia fossil (Mehrotra et al., 2003). Finally, the root node of the tree (i.e. ...
Aim
The aim of this study was to further advance our understanding of the species-rich, and ecologically important angiosperm family Combretaceae to provide new insights into their evolutionary history. We assessed phylogenetic relationships in the family using target capture data and produced a dated phylogenetic tree to assess fruit dispersal modes and patterns of distribution.
Location
Tropical and subtropical regions.
Time Period
Cretaceous to present.
Major Taxa Studied
Family Combretaceae is a member of the rosid clade and comprises 10 genera and more than 500 species, predominantly assigned to genera Combretum and Terminalia, and occurring on all continents and in a wide range of ecosystems.
Methods
We use a target capture approach and the Angiosperms353 universal probes to reconstruct a robust dated phylogenetic tree for the family. This phylogenetic framework, combined with seed dispersal traits, biome data and biogeographic ranges, allows the reconstruction of the biogeographical history of the group.
Results
Ancestral range reconstructions suggest a Gondwanan origin (Africa/South America), with several intercontinental dispersals within the family and few transitions between biomes. Relative abundance of fruit dispersal types differed by both continent and biome. However, intercontinental colonizations were only significantly enhanced by water dispersal (drift fruit), and there was no evidence that seed dispersal modes influenced biome shifts.
Main Conclusions
Our analysis reveals a paradox as drift fruit greatly enhanced dispersal distances at intercontinental scale but did not affect the strong biome conservatism observed.
... The figures were elaborated using Corel Draw v. 2020 (Corel Corporation, 2020). To obtain the taxonomic affinity of the fossil flowers, an extensive bibliographical study including articles, fascicles, and books of Polygonaceae was carried out (e.g., Blake, 1921;Fedotov, 1991;Brandbyge, 1993;Manchester and O'Leary, 2010;Burke and Sánchez, 2011), and the database FAMEX polykey (Murguía and Villaseñor, 1993) The description is based on four complete, bisexual, small, actinomorphic flowers, 6.9-8 mm long, 1.9-3 mm wide ( Fig. 1A-C), pedicel slightly curved, 4-4.5 mm long (Fig. 1C); perianth differentiated into two whorls (Figs. 1B, C; 2C; 3), three sepals per series, outer ones long, each with a longitudinal groove along the main rib that expands into a thin wing ( Fig. 2A-D), translucent, margin entire to undulate, partially fused at base, with a fine reticulate to fusiform venation, 2.6-3 mm long, 494-503 μm wide ( Fig. 2A, B), three petals per series, flattened parts, erect, thin, translucent with entire margin, venation irregular to reticulate (Figs. ...
... There are only three genera in Polygonaceae that have actinomorphic flowers, three petals or sepals, and thin translucent wings, entire to undulate margin, partially fused at base: Fallopia, Neomillspaughia and Podopterus. These genera have flowers with three sepals that develop into the wings of the fruits (Brandbyge, 1993;Manchester and O'Leary, 2010). The flowers of Fallopia have an elliptical shape, with a long perianth that runs into the base, but there are some differences with the flowers from Chiapas. ...
Background and Aims:
The Miocene amber from Chiapas, Mexico, shows high diversity of biological inclusions such as plants, fungi, arthropods, and vertebrates, being one of the most important amber-bearing areas worldwide. The aim of this work is to describe a new record based on four bisexual flowers belonging to the fossil species Podopterus mijangosae, that has been described recently based on its winged fruits only.
Methods:
The morphological and anatomical characteristics of the four fossil flowers were observed using a binocular stereoscopic microscope. The taxonomic affinity was decided by consulting specialized literature, as well as the review of herbarium material of the genera Podopterus, Fallopia, and Neomillspaughia of Polygonaceae.
Key results:
The four fossil specimens are bisexual, small, and have actinomorphic flowers, with differentiated perianth, three petals and three sepals per series, stamens are free and with thread-like filaments, anthers are dithecal and basifixed, the ovary is superior, syncarpous, 3-angular, with three free styles, and capitate stigmas.
Conclusions:
This new report of flowers of Podopterus adds more evidence that the family Polygonaceae was an important component of the tropical forest of Simojovel de Allende, Chiapas, Mexico, during the Miocene.
