A Study ofGinkgoLeaves from the Middle Jurassic of Inner Mongolia, China

Abstract

During the Mesozoic era, Ginkgo leaves are diverse and widespread, especially in the Northern Hemisphere. Here we present three Ginkgo leaf types collected from the Middle Jurassic Zhaogou Formation of Shiguai coal‐bearing basin in Inner Mongolia, China. These are described for the first time on the basis of their leaf morphology and well‐preserved cuticular characters. One new species, Ginkgo shiguaiensis, is described, and Ginkgo longifolius is recognized, while a third leaf type is designated as Ginkgo sp. The occurrence of these leaf types in the Middle Jurassic of Inner Mongolia significantly extends the stratigraphic and geographic distribution of Ginkgo in China. The associated plants, cuticular characters of the Ginkgo leaves, and the sedimentology of the plant‐bearing strata suggest that these plants grew in a warm‐temperate and moist climate.