Preliminary revision of the palynological collection of Professor Blanka Pacltová – a significant collection of Cenomanian microflora housed at the National Museum, Prague

Abstract

A preliminary revision of the palynological collection of Professor Blanka Pacltová was carried out considering samples from the middle Cenomanian of the Peruc-Korycany Formation, the basal most member of the Bohemian Cretaceous Basin (the Czech Republic). This collection is mainly composed of slides with palynological residues for light microscope study, which were mounted in the 1960s and 1970s. This work presents an evaluation of the state of preservation of this collection, taking into account the presence of ancient angiosperm pollen types. High percentage of preparations is affected by degradation of glycerine jelly and their remounting is necessary. The present study additionally suggests a methodology for curation of this collection with the objective of long-term preservation.

Key words

palynological collection, Blanka Pacltová, curation, angiosperm pollen types, early Cenomanian, Bohemian Cretaceous Basin, the Czech Republic

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The Early Cretaceous mesofossil flora of Torres Vedras (NE of Forte da Forca), Portugal: a palaeofloristic analysis of an early angiosperm community

Abstract

An Early Cretaceous mesofossil flora is described from the lower part of the Almargem Formation (late Barremian-early Aptian) from Torres Vedras (NE of Forte da Forca), Portugal. The flora is the oldest mesofossil flora containing angiosperm remains to be described in detail based on well-preserved flower, fruit and seed remains. In addition to angiosperms, the mesofossil flora also includes megaspores, sporangia and tiny leaves of spore-bearing plants. There are also twigs, cone fragments and seeds of conifers and seeds assigned to the BEG group. In total about 100 species have been distinguished. Most abundant in terms of plant fragments identified, are spore-bearing plants and conifers. Although only about 18 % of the specimens can be attributed to angiosperms, angiosperm diversity is unexpected high considering the age of the flora. Angiosperms account for about 62 % of all species recognized. Angiosperm diversity is mainly at the level of ANA-grade angiosperms, eumagnoliids and in a few cases early diverging lineages of monocots. Eudicots are subordinate. Twenty new genera and 28 new species of angiosperms are established Anaspermum operculatum gen. et sp. nov., Appofructus nudus gen. et sp. nov., Appomattoxia minuta sp. nov., Burgeria striata gen. et sp. nov., Canrightia elongata sp. nov., Choffaticarpus compactus gen. et sp. nov., Dejaxia brevicolpites gen. et sp. nov., Dinisia portugallica gen. et sp. nov., Eckhartia brevicolumella gen. et sp. nov., Eckhartia longicolumella sp. nov., Eckhartia intermedia sp. nov., Eckhartianthus lusitanicus gen. et sp. nov., Eckhartiopsis parva gen. et sp. nov., Gastonispermum antiquum sp. nov., Goczania rugosa gen. et sp. nov., Goczania inaequalis sp. nov., Goczania punctata sp. nov., Ibrahimia verminculata gen. et sp. nov., Juhaszia portugallica gen. et sp. nov., Kempia longicolpites gen. et sp. nov., Kvacekispermum costatum sp. nov., Mcdougallia irregularis gen. et sp. nov., Nicholsia brevicolpites gen. et sp. nov., Piercipollis simplex gen. et sp. nov., Reyanthus lusitanicus gen. et sp. nov., Samylinaea punctata gen. et sp. nov., Teebacia hughesii gen. et sp. nov., Vedresia elliptica gen. et sp. nov.). Comparison with results of a palynological study from the same horizon that yielded the mesofossil flora shows a marked underestimation of angiosperm diversity in the palynoflora, a pattern that has also been recognized elsewhere.

Key words

early eudicots, fossil flowers, fossil seeds, fossil megaspores, fossil stamens, mesofossil flora, Sergipea, synchrotron radiation X-ray tomographic microscopy (SRXTM), tricolpate pollen

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Revision of the late Bashkirian cordaitalean Cordaites karvinensis and allied dispersed cuticles from Upper Silesia, the Czech Republic

Abstract

The Langsettian species Cordaites karvinensis ŠIMŮNEK and C. sustae ŠIMŮNEK were found conspecific, with C. karvinensis chosen as a correct name. These species come from the same coal seam of the Upper Suchá Member (Upper Silesian Basin, the Czech Republic). Abaxial cuticle from C. karvinensis was found conspicuously similar to Cordaabaxicutis cf. jaworznoensis from the Lower Suchá Member from the strata near the Namurian/Westphalian boundary, as well as to Cordaabaxicutis jaworznoensis ŠIMŮNEK et FLORJAN described from the Orzesze Beds (Duckmantian) from Poland. The abaxial cuticles of all these species are papillate. It is probable that these species are members of one evolutionary lineage, however without information on the leaf morphology connected to the dispersed cuticles of Cordaabaxicutis, this opinion remains hypothetical.

Key words

Cordaites, Upper Silesian Basin, cuticular analysis, Karviná Formation, Pennsylvanian, Bashkirian

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The first Glyptostroboxylon and Taxodioxylon descriptions from the late Miocene of Turkey

Abstract

Taxodioxylon HARTING (emended by Gothan 1905) was widely described from the late Oligocene of the European part of Turkey (Thrace) and the early Miocene of greater Turkey, Anatolia. Glyptostroboxylon CONW. was also described from the early Miocene of central Anatolia. The purpose of this paper is to present a more detailed extended history of these two genera up to the late Miocene (Tortonian) with new descriptions from the Galatean Volcanic Province in central Turkey. The wood identification showed the presence of two fossil species; Glyptostroboxylon rudolphii DOLEZYCH et BURGH and Taxodioxylon gypsaceum (GÖPP.) GREGUSS. In conclusion, the swamp and lowland warm-temperate forest composition including Glyptostroboxylon and Taxodioxylon in the Galatean Volcanic Province, continued from the early Miocene (Burdigalian) to the late Miocene (Tortonian).

Key words

Galatean Volcanic Province, Glyptostroboxylon rudolphii, late Miocene, petrified forest, Taxodioxylon gypsaceum, swamp forest

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Bonanzacarpum sprungerorum sp. nov. – a bizarre fruit from the Eocene Green River Formation in Utah, USA

Abstract

Shales of the early middle Eocene Parachute Creek Member of the Green River Formation in Utah, western USA, have yielded a large number of fossil plant remains with abundant Platanaceae, Salicaceae, and Ulmaceae, but many of the constituents of this flora remain indeterminate. Here we present a new fruit type based on distinctive sedimentary molds investigated by reflected light and μCT scanning. The structures are oblate woody fruits, about 18–26 mm wide but only 2–4 mm high, but partially flattened by compression within the sediment. In transverse view they are rounded-polygonal, with 5–6 sides. In lateral view the locule is dome-shaped with 7 to 11 obpyriform grooves radiating from the center of the basal wall. Three-dimensional imaging and both physical and digital sections indicate that the fruits were circumscissile capsules. Although analogous fruits occur in the Lecythidaceae A.RICH., Bonanzacarpum sprungerorum sp. nov. fruits are much smaller and lack the prominent woody pedicel and corresponding basal scar that characterizes that family. Hence, the systematic position of B. sprungerorum remains uncertain.

Key words

fossil fruits, circumscissile capsules, Palaeogene, extinct, micro-CT scanning

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Validation of four new plant fossil names from Turkey

Abstract

Fossil-wood descriptions from Turkey have been increasing in recent years. The aim of the present paper is to redefine four new fossil species according to the protologue for new plant fossil names. As result, these four new fossil species are verified: Cupressinoxylon pliocenica AKKEMIK sp. nov., Cercioxylon zeynepae AKKEMIK sp. nov., Zelkovoxylon yesimae AKKEMIK et I.POOLE sp. nov. and Pistacioxylon ufukii AKKEMIK et I.POOLE sp. nov.

Key words

validation, fossil wood, description, new species

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