Cupressus foliage shoots and associated seed cones from the Oligocene Ningming Formation of Guangxi, South China

Abstract

The present paper reports a new species of Cupressus based on compressed material from the Oligocene Ningming Formation of the Ningming County, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, South China. The foliage shoots described as Cupressus guangxiensis sp. nov. are almost identical with those of the extant species Cupressus funebris, which is considered primitive among the genus, in gross morphology as well as cuticular structure. Their foliage shoots are similarly flattened and alternately branched, bearing weakly dimorphic, amphistomatic scale leaves with serrate and scariose margin. Associated seed cones are also comparable to those of the same extant species in shape and size. The morphogenera and organ genera related to Cupressus-like fossils are briefly reviewed. Available fossil evidence appears to be in accordance with Farjon's inference that the evolutionary trend in the genus Cupressus leads from some species with dimorphic leaves and smaller cones as C. funebris to those with monomorphic leaves and larger cones. This is the first fossil record of Cupressus with well-preserved cuticle in Asia.