{"title":"Palissya – absolutely incomprehensible or surprisingly interpretable: a new morphological model, affiliations and phylogenetic insights","authors":"G. A. Pattemore, A. Rozefelds","doi":"10.2478/acpa-2019-0015","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2478/acpa-2019-0015","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract The morphology of the adaxial structures of cones belonging to Palissya Endlicher 1847 emend. nov. are reinterpreted based on exquisitely preserved permineralised material from the Lower Cretaceous of Queensland. Although the material was not found in situ, it likely derives from the Orallo Formation, which is Valanginian in age. The cones have dual vascular bundles in each bract/scale complex, and the different tissue types in the bract and ovule/scale complex support interpretation of the cone as a compound structure. Since the early twentieth century it has been widely accepted that each ovule is surrounded by a cup-shaped structure, but the detailed morphology of the “cup” has hitherto been unclear. These new three-dimensionally preserved specimens with in situ ovules are described as Palissya tillackiorum sp. nov. This study demonstrates that the “cup” is formed from a pair of thin scales that subtend but are not fused to each ovule; each pair of scales comprises a thicker outer and thinner inner scale. The organographic relationships among ovules and scales in Palissya show a high degree of synorganisation. The adaxial surface of the bract/scale complex has 2–6 pairs of erect (orthotropous) ovules. The ovule/scale units are arranged symmetrically in two parallel rows on either side of the midline of the bract/scale. Individual ovule/scale units are comparable to those seen in extant Podocarpaceae and Taxaceae. The ovules are thin-walled and are interpreted to have a single integument and a non-thickened (non-lignified) micropyle. These new insights allow reinterpretation of material previously referred to Palissya. A new species is described from Yorkshire, England, as P. harrisii C.R. Hill ex Pattemore & Rozefelds sp. nov. All species based on well preserved cones are reconsidered herein: P. sphenolepis (Braun 1843) Nathorst 1908 emend. Florin 1958, P. elegans Parris, Drinnan & Cantrill 1995 emend. nov., P. bartrumii Edwards 1934 emend. nov., P. antarctica Cantrill 2000 and P. hunanensis Wang 2012. Palissya ovalis Parris et al. 1995 differs structurally from Palissya and is transferred to Knezourocarpon Pattemore 2000 emend. nov. Representatives of this genus may superficially resemble those of Palissya in compressions and impressions, and their congeneric status has been previously suggested; hence its inclusion in this study. Knezourocarpon has adaxial processes that are positioned in two parallel rows but it lacks ovules and paired lateral scales that formed a cup-shape, and its processes attach directly to a central vascular trace. The improved understanding of Palissya’s morphology allows for definite separation of these genera, although the higher-order affiliation of Knezourocarpon remains unclear.","PeriodicalId":39861,"journal":{"name":"Acta Palaeobotanica","volume":"59 1","pages":"181 - 214"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46124161","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
S. Manchester, D. Kapgate, D. Ramteke, S. P. Patil, Selena Y. Smith
{"title":"Morphology and anatomy of the angiosperm fruit Baccatocarpon, incertae sedis, from the Maastrichtian Deccan Intertrappean Beds of India","authors":"S. Manchester, D. Kapgate, D. Ramteke, S. P. Patil, Selena Y. Smith","doi":"10.2478/acpa-2019-0019","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2478/acpa-2019-0019","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Distinctive permineralized fruits of Baccatocarpon mohgaoense (Paradkar & Dixit) comb. nov. have been collected from several sites in the late Maastrichtian of the Deccan Intertrappean beds of Central India. We describe the peculiar fruits in detail, based on combined investigations by reflected light and X-ray CT scanning. Three-dimensional renderings and virtual slices confirm that the fruits have two lateral single-seeded locules and a central sterile chamber filled with parenchyma. The endocarp is thin-walled and opens apically longitudinal valves. Here we validate the generic name Baccatocarpon Bhowal & Sheikh ex Manchester, Ramteke, Kapgate & S.Y. Smith and recognize a single species, for which the name Baccatocarpon mohgaoense (Paradkar & Dixit) comb. nov. has priority. We document the occurrence of this species in cherts from the paleobotanical sites known as Bhutera, Keria, Mahurzari, Mohgoankalan, Paladaun, Marai Patan and Shibla. The systematic affinity of these fruits remains mysterious.","PeriodicalId":39861,"journal":{"name":"Acta Palaeobotanica","volume":"59 1","pages":"241 - 250"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46041978","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Palaeoclimatology and biostratigraphic significance of late Neogene/Quaternary vegetational changes recorded in the offshore western Niger Delta","authors":"P. Adeonipekun, M. A. Sowunmi","doi":"10.2478/acpa-2019-0011","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2478/acpa-2019-0011","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Attempts at reconstructing palaeoclimatic changes over time using palynomorphs of three oil wells drilled in the shallow offshore Niger Delta led to cluster analysis-aided recognition of seven pollen zones. These pollen zones are equivalent to ten palaeoclimatic zones with alternating dry and wet conditions. The palynomorphs were classified into phytoecological groups and changes in their relative abundances were employed to interpret the palaeoclimatic conditions of their source areas. Contrasting fluctuations in the proportions of the Spore (Pteridophytes) phytoecological group and those of the Poaceae were the main basis for palaeoclimatic inferences. Trends of the occurrence of other phytoecological groups were used to substantiate our palaeoclimatic inferences. In the latest Miocene (5.8–5.5 Ma), climatic conditions were mainly wet until between 5.5 and 5.0 Ma, when extreme dry conditions prevailed. The early Pliocene part (5.0–>3.4 Ma) was generally wet, while the late Pliocene part (<3.0–2.7 Ma) was extremely dry, with wet conditions re-occurring at the latest Pliocene/earliest Pleistocene boundary at a lower magnitude than those of the early Pliocene. This is inferred from the bloom of open vegetation Acanthaceae undif., Polygala sp. and Asystacia gangetica, along with montane Podocarpus milanjianus from 2.4 Ma through 2.0 Ma and younger. The Acanthaceae bloom recorded the evolution of A. gangetica in the latest Pliocene/earliest Pleistocene at around 2.0 Ma in the Niger Delta. The upper Early Pliocene regional wet event is associated with distinct peaks of riverine forest, freshwater swamp and mangrove pollen. Our results further support earlier findings from other parts of West Africa with respect to palaeoclimatic changes in the late Neogene/earliest Quaternary. Equivalent qualitative palynostratigraphic events were recognized within the pollen zones which are useful for age determination, and the significance of biostratigraphic correlation of the zones is stressed.","PeriodicalId":39861,"journal":{"name":"Acta Palaeobotanica","volume":"59 1","pages":"373 - 390"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"48179780","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
M. Mendes, France Polette, P. P. Cunha, Pedro A. Dinis, D. Batten
{"title":"A new Hauterivian palynoflora from the Vale Cortiço site (central Portugal), and its palaeoecological implications for western Iberia","authors":"M. Mendes, France Polette, P. P. Cunha, Pedro A. Dinis, D. Batten","doi":"10.2478/acpa-2019-0010","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2478/acpa-2019-0010","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Palynofloral assemblages are an invaluable source of information about the interactions between fossil plants and their environments. Here we describe a new Early Cretaceous palynoflora from the Lusitanian Basin in the Estremadura region of central western Portugal. A palynological assemblage of 28 genera and 40 species was extracted from 14 samples collected in the Vale Cortiço clay pit complex near the small village of Ameal (Torres Vedras Municipality). The source is a dark grey mudstone layer belonging to the lower part of the Santa Susana Formation, which is considered to be of early Hauterivian age. The palynoflora is dominated by fern spores and gymnosperm pollen. Bryophyte and lycophyte palynomorphs are also present but subordinate. Angiosperm pollen and algal or dinoflagellate cysts were not recognised in the studied samples. The palynological assemblage represents mixed conifer forest with the ground cover and understorey vegetation dominated by ferns, with patchy occurrences of bryophytes and lycophytes. A riverine environment with surrounding vegetation of open woodland and ground cover primarily of ferns is strongly indicated for the region.","PeriodicalId":39861,"journal":{"name":"Acta Palaeobotanica","volume":"59 1","pages":"215 - 228"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46042298","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Carpatella rossica sp. nov., a new Late Paleocene–Eocene dinoflagellate species from European Russia and Ukraine","authors":"A. Iakovleva","doi":"10.2478/acpa-2019-0018","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2478/acpa-2019-0018","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Palynological study of two Paleogene core sections from the Voronezh and Rostov regions (SW Russia) and one outcrop in Ukraine revealed the presence of a new Late Paleocene–Eocene species, Carpatella rossica sp. nov. The new species is attributed to the genus Carpatella because of the presence of both apical and antapical horns. However, it is suggested that the taxon represents some features transitional between the three genera of the “Aptiana–Ventriosum complex” of Helenes (1986). Based on the observation of a thin smooth inner layer of the wall in some specimens of Carpatella rossica sp. nov., and given some morphological features of other species described after 1988, a new emendation of the genus Carpatella (Grigorovich 1969) Damassa 1988 is proposed here.","PeriodicalId":39861,"journal":{"name":"Acta Palaeobotanica","volume":"59 1","pages":"277 - 288"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45062548","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Fruit morphology, anatomy and relationships of the type species of Mastixicarpum and Eomastixia (Cornales) from the late Eocene of Hordle, southern England","authors":"S. Manchester, M. Collinson","doi":"10.2478/acpa-2019-0006","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2478/acpa-2019-0006","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract The Mastixiaceae (Cornales) were more widespread and diverse in the Cenozoic than they are today. The fossil record includes fruits of both extant genera, Mastixia and Diplopanax, as well as several extinct genera. Two of the fossil genera, Eomastixia and Mastixicarpum, are prominent in the palaeobotanical literature, but concepts of their delimitation have varied with different authors. These genera, both based on species described 93 years ago by Marjorie Chandler from the late Eocene (Priabonian) Totland Bay Member of the Headon Hill Formation at Hordle, England, are nomenclaturally fundamental, because they were the first of a series of fossil mastixioid genera published from the European Cenozoic. In order to better understand the type species of Eomastixia and Mastixicarpum, we studied type specimens and topotypic material using x-ray tomography and scanning electron microscopy to supplement traditional methods of analysis, to improve our understanding of the morphology and anatomy of these fossils. Following comparisons with other fossil and modern taxa, we retain Mastixicarpum crassum Chandler rather than transferring it to the similar extant genus Diplopanax, and we retain Eomastixia bilocularis Chandler [=Eomastixia rugosa (Zenker) Chandler] and corroborate earlier conclusions that this species represents an extinct genus that is more closely related to Mastixia than to Diplopanax.","PeriodicalId":39861,"journal":{"name":"Acta Palaeobotanica","volume":"59 1","pages":"51 - 67"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42384614","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Populus erratica Sachse, nom. nov. – not really new, but a stratigraphically informative species from the late Oligocene and early Miocene of Central Europe","authors":"M. Sachse","doi":"10.2478/acpa-2019-0009","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2478/acpa-2019-0009","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract A critical review of reports from European localities reveals that the herein newly described Populus erratica Sachse, nom. nov. was previously treated under a variety of names. Due to its stratigraphical range from the late Oligocene to early Miocene, it might be a useful tool for age determinations in the terrestrial record. So far it is known only from warm-temperate floodplain forests in Central Europe – possibly even restricted to the alpine area. The taxonomic relationships to some morphologically similar species from other localities cannot be entirely clarified here.","PeriodicalId":39861,"journal":{"name":"Acta Palaeobotanica","volume":"59 1","pages":"69 - 73"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45823148","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Vegetation change inferred from the pollen record in recent sediments from around the Lagos-East coastal environment (SW Nigeria)","authors":"L. Ajikah, O. Adekanmbi, O. Ogundipe","doi":"10.2478/acpa-2019-0004","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2478/acpa-2019-0004","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Recent sediments from the coastal environment of Lagos East, Nigeria, were used to make a palynological reconstruction of the vegetation of the study area and to draw inferences about its palaeoclimate. A total of 8456 palynomorphs were recovered, dominated by pollen grains of Poaceae (13.96%), Cyperaceae (6.23%), Alchornea cordifolia Müll-Arg (8.36%) and Elaeis guineensis Jacq (2.41%). Others were Cyclosorus afer Ching (2.18%), Rhizophora sp. (0.45%), Nephrolepis sp. (1.03%), Celtis sp. (0.25%) and Pteris sp. (0.13%). The composition of the recovered palynomorphs suggests that the past vegetation was predominantly a mosaic of freshwater swamp, with open to dry climate, as indicated by the records of Cyperaceae, Alchornea cordifolia, Elaeis guineensis, Arecaceae, Asteraceae, Acanthaceae and Chenopodiaceae/Amaranthaceae. Radiocarbon dates obtained from two depths (surface and deepest) indicate that the sediments were deposited around the last 103.8 ± 0.4 pMC (percentage Modern Carbon) and 111.9 ± 0.4 pMC, hence in the late Holocene. The study identified fluctuations between wet and dry climatic conditions in the Holocene of this area.","PeriodicalId":39861,"journal":{"name":"Acta Palaeobotanica","volume":"59 1","pages":"165 - 175"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46954247","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Revisions to the fossil sporophyte record of Marsilea","authors":"E. Hermsen","doi":"10.2478/acpa-2019-0005","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2478/acpa-2019-0005","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract The fossil record of Marsilea is challenging to assess, due in part to unreliable reports and conflicting opinions regarding the proper application of the names Marsilea and Marsileaceaephyllum to fossil leaves and leaflets similar to those of modern Marsilea. Specimens examined for this study include material assigned to Marsileaceaephyllum johnhallii, purportedly the oldest fossil record of a Marsilea-like sporophyte from the Lower Cretaceous of the Dakota Formation, Kansas, U.S.A.; leaves and leaf whorls of the extinct aquatic angiosperm Fortuna from several Late Cretaceous and Paleocene localities in western North America; and leaves and leaflets resembling Marsilea from the Eocene Green River Formation, Colorado and Utah, U.S.A. Literature on the fossil record of Marsilea was also reviewed. As a result, several taxonomic changes are proposed. Marsileaceaephyllum johnhallii is reinterpreted as an aquatic angiosperm that shares some architectural features with the genus Fortuna, although Marsileaceaephyllum is here maintained as a distinct genus with an emended diagnosis; under this reinterpretation, the name Marsileaceaephyllum can no longer be applied to sporophyte organs with affinities to Marsileaceae. Three valid fossil Marsilea species are recognized on the basis of sporophyte material that includes characteristic quadrifoliolate leaves and reticulate-veined leaflets: Marsilea campanica (J. Kvaček & Herman) Hermsen, comb. nov., from the Upper Cretaceous Grünbach Formation, Austria; Marsilea mascogos Estrada-Ruiz et al., from the Upper Cretaceous Olmos Formation, Mexico; and Marsilea sprungerorum Hermsen, sp. nov., from the Eocene Green River Formation, U.S.A. The species are distinguished from one another based on leaflet dimensions. Leaves from the Eocene Wasatch Formation, U.S.A., are transferred from Marsileaceaephyllum back to Marsilea, although not assigned to a fossil species. Finally, an occurrence of Marsilea from the Oligocene of Ethiopia is reassigned to Salvinia. A critical evaluation of the fossil record of Marsilea thus indicates that (1) the oldest fossil marsileaceous sporophytes bearing Marsilea-like leaves are from the Campanian; (2) only four credible records of sporophyte material attributable to Marsilea are known; and (3) the oldest dispersed Marsilea spores are known from the Oligocene.","PeriodicalId":39861,"journal":{"name":"Acta Palaeobotanica","volume":"59 1","pages":"27 - 50"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"41982497","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}