A New Species of Asplenium L. from the Lower Cretaceous Changcai Formation in Yanbian Area, Jilin, China

Abstract

The living family of Aspleniaceae might be one of the biggest families of ferns.The Genus among it is diversified and widely distributed in tropical-temperate zones,especially in the tropical and subtropical areas which is recognized as the distribution center.Confessed earliest fossil specimens of Asplenium Linn.were found from Lower Cretaceous of Northeast Asia and Far East of Russia,being one of the new elements in Cretaceous in the Siberian-Canadian Phyto-geographic Realm.Based on the comparative studies of in situ spores between the fertile frond fossils collected from the early Cretaceous Changcai Formation in Yanbian area of Jilin,China,and the living fertile fronds of Asplenium trichomanes L.,the fertile frond fossils and its sterile frond fossils are definitely assigned to the genus Asplenium L.Furthermore,through the comparison to the known species of fossil Asplenium,a new species of Asplenium is recongnized,i.e.Asplenium changcaium Sun et Liu,sp.nov.Since the well preserved spores in situ of the present new species,it would be beneficial for the researches on the evolution of Asplenium,or even Aspleniaceae.The new species is described as follows:Order:Filicales;Family:Aspleniacea;Genus:Asplenium Linn.,1753;Species:Asplenium changcaium Sun et Liu,sp.nov.(Fig.2-1～8,Fig.3-1～7)Holotype:The specimen JLC030344 illustrated on Fig.2-1 has been chosen as holotype.Paratype:Both the specimen JLC030359 illustrated on Fig.2-5 and the specimen JLC030447 illustrated on Fig.2-7 are chosen as paratypes.Additional specimen:JLC030343,JLC030345,JLC030346,JLC030348,JLC030442,JLC030358,JLC030356,JLC030443,JLC030353.Repository:the Research Center of Paleontology and Stratigraphy,Jilin University,China.Type locality:Nanyang Coal-mine,Helong County,Jilin Province.Type horizon:Changcai Formation,Lower Cretaceous(Aptian).Etymology:Changcai refers to the stratigraphic horizon,the Lower Cretaceous Changcai Formation in Yanbian area,Jilin Province.