Fossil Gordonia (s.l.)\u2013like (Theaceae) winged seeds from the early Miocene of the Mecsek Mts, W Hungary

Abstract

Winged seeds were recovered from two sites of the late early Miocene (Karpatian) flora of Magyaregregy, Mecsek Mts, W Hungary. The seeds are assigned to the fossil-genus and species, Mecsekispermum gordonioides Hably and Erdei gen. nov. et sp. nov., and are tentatively related to the family Theaceae. Based on the overall character of the winged seeds and the isodiametric surface pattern of the seed coat, the seeds are most comparable with species of Gordonia J. Ellis (s.l.,) in Theeae (Laplacea Kunth or Polyspora Sweet). A comparison with winged seeds of other fossil genera, e.g. Saportaspermum Meyer and Manchester, and winged seeds of modern genera in various families is also given. The fossil flora is preserved in the fish scale-bearing clay marl belonging to the Feked Formation and Komló Claymarl Member and dated as Karpatian (late Burdigalian, standard chronostratigraphy).