| Abstract Detail
Paleobotanical Section Hu, Shusheng [1], Taylor, David [2], Hickey, Leo [3]. A new Turonian flower of Ericalean affinity from the South Amboy Fire Clay Member of the Raritan Formation, Linden Clay Pit, Middlesex County, New Jersey. Charcoalified plant mesofossils, including flowers, inflorescences, fruits, and seeds, have been recovered from carbonaceous clay of inferred estuarine origin belonging to the South Amboy Fire Clay Member of the Raritan Formation from the Linden Clay Pit, Middlesex County, New Jersey. Based upon dispersed angiosperm pollen, including Complexiopollis sp. and Pseudoplicapollis sp., these samples fall in Zone V of Doyle and Robbins (1977) and are of late Turonian Age. Among the three dimensionally preserved mesofossils is a minute, pentamerous flower with in situ ovules and adherent pollen. The flower is 2.0 mm long and 1.2 mm wide. The preserved basal remnants of the perianth form a single ring resulting from the fusion of an inner and an outer whorl of sympetalous and synsepalous corolla elements. An annular disc is located inside of the stamens, into which is inserted a large nectary gland opposite to the filament bases. The ovary is superior, syncarpous, and 5-carpellate, 1.1mm long, and 0.9 mm wide. The style is at least 0.5 mm long and hollow. The stumps of five filament bases are present and opposite the petals. Pollen grains, which are found adhering to the filament bases and also lying between the petals and the ovary wall, are oblate, 14 x 21µm, tricolporoidate, with short colpi, scabrate to regulate sculpturing, and a solid tectum and foot layer. The ovules are rectangular, 105 x 66 µm in length and width, arranged horizontally, and axile, with more than 50 ovules per locule. Based upon the floral and pollen characteristics, such as a connate corolla, an annular disc, a syncarpous and 5-locular ovary, a hollow style, horizontal ovules, axile placentation, and tricolporoidate pollen with a solid tectum and foot layer; the fossil flower appears to have its closest affinity with the Order Ericales. Broader Impacts:
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1 - Yale University, Peabody Museum of Natural History, 170 Whitney Avenue, New Haven, CT, 06511, USA 2 - INDIANA UNIVERSITY SOUTHEAST, Department Of Biology, 4200 GRANT LINE ROAD, NEW ALBANY, IN, 47150, USA 3 - Yale University, Peabody Museum Of Natural History, P.O. Box 208109, 170 Whitney Avenue, New Haven, CT, 06520-8109, USA
Keywords: charcoalified mesofossils angiosperm flower Ericales Turonian Raritan Formation.
Presentation Type: Oral Paper:Papers for Sections Session: 40 Location: Forsyth Room/Chase Park Plaza Date: Wednesday, July 13th, 2011 Time: 9:00 AM Number: 40004 Abstract ID:379 |