Cunninghamia taylorii sp. nov., a Structurally Preserved Cupressaceous Conifer from the Upper Cretaceous (Campanian) Horseshoe Canyon Formation of Western North America

Abstract

The fossiliferous ironstone deposits of the Upper Cretaceous Horseshoe Canyon Formation in the Drumheller badlands, Alberta, Canada, contain a diverse, anatomically preserved flora. Within this assemblage occur abundant stems, leafy shoots, leaves, ovuliferous cones, and pollen cone clusters that are here described as a new species of Cunninghamia. The stems have persistent leaf bases and plagiotropic branching. Some stems show several growth increments, and the cortex and pith are made up of resin canals, large parenchymatous cells, and lysigenous cavities. Leafy shoot axes have parenchymatous cells, resinous cells, lysigenous cavities, and resin canals within the cortex and pith. The leaves are helically arranged, lanceolate to falcate, with two abaxial stomatal bands, a large central resin canal, and two smaller lateral canals. The ovuliferous cones have numerous helically arranged bract scale complexes. The bracts and three-lobed ovuliferous scale are variously ornamented. Anatomical features of bract...