Friisialusitanica gen. et sp. nov., a new podocarpaceous ovuliferous cone from the Lower Cretaceous of Lusitanian Basin, western Portugal

Abstract

A new small elongate ovuliferous cone, Friisia lusitanica gen. et sp. nov., assigned to the Podocarpaceae is described from the Lower Cretaceous (upper Aptian – lower Albian) of Catefica site near the locality of Torres Vedras in the Estremadura region, western Portugal, based on a single specimen. The new fossil cone Friisia lusitanica shows decussate ovuliferous complexes bearing axillary one inverted seed covered by a structure interpreted here as epimatium. Bracts of ovuliferous complexes are generally epistomatic. Adaxial cuticle of the bract shows stomata surrounded by thickenings interpreted as Florin rings. In its dense decussate arrangement of ovuliferous complexes it is quite similar to Microcachrys tetragona (Podocarpaceae), shrubby conifer from wet forests of Tasmania which has however ovuliferous complexes arranged in whorls. The description of the new fossil provided here is the first report of podocarpaceous ovuliferous cone from the Lower Cretaceous of Portugal and Europe adding important information to our knowledge of the diversity and geographic distribution of conifers assigned to Podocarpaceae.