Credneria and Platanus (Platanaceae) from the Late Cretaceous (Santonian) of Quedlinburg, Germany

Abstract

Foliage and reproductive structures of Platanaceae from the Upper Cretaceous (Santonian) of Quedlinburg, Central Germany, were comparatively studied and their systematic affinities established. One type of foliage preserved in sandstone and rarely in clayish siltstone belongs to the extinct genus Credneria. The leaves are typically obovate with a pinnate-actinodromous venation and distinct suprabasal veins. In addition, a substantial number of leaves preserved in siltstone and rarely in sandstone are identical to modern Platanus based on leaf architecture and epidermal features. As in modern Platanus leaf margin and size were found to be of no systematic significance in both fossil leaf types. Further, staminate flower heads preserved as cleavage compressions in siltstone were found in association with Platanus leaves; they contain pollen that is identical to modern Platanus in size and type of tectum. In addition, a few three-dimensionally preserved staminate flower heads with ca. 50 flowers on a receptaculum are described. Each flower appears to have a two-whorled perianth and six or seven stamens. The organs of the outer perianth whorl show a distinct epidermal cell pattern different from the inner ones. All perianth organs have the same length as the stamens. Stamens are bithecate and contain pollen identical to that found in compression fossils. Pistillate heads preserved in siltstone consist of numerous achenes with persistent styles, which show close similarity to modern Platanus. It remains unclear, whether additional inflorescence heads of uncertain sex found in sandstone that are slightly larger than those preserved in siltstone belong to the leaves of Credneria. Association evidence links vegetative and reproductive structures preserved in siltstone and indicates the presence of the modern genus Platanus in the Santonian.