Paleoaltingia gen. nov., a new genus of Altingiaceae from the Late Cretaceous of New Jersey

Abstract

Altingiaceae is a small family with a bimodal Northern Hemisphere distribution in eastern North America and eastern Asia, and a rich Cenozoic fossil record. The charcoalified fossil infructescence Paleoaltingia gen. nov. from Turonian (Late Cretaceous) deposits of New Jersey, provides new evidence of early Altingiaceae reproductive structures and has biogeographical implications in understanding modern distribution. Fossils were prepared using standard methods for obtaining and processing mesofossils. The fossils were examined with light microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy for observing structural and anatomical details. Phylogenetic analyses were performed using a combined matrix of molecular and morphological data. Based on morphological features of the fossil and the phylogenetic analyses, the new genus, Paleoaltingia, with two species (Paleoaltingia ovum-dinosauri and P. polyodonta) is erected. The phylogenetic position of Paleoaltingia confirms affinities with living Altingiaceae. The combination of characters-simple capitate infructescence, syncarpous bicarpellate, and bilocular ovary, unique sterile phyllome structures-indicates that the fossil taxa have close affinities to modern Altingiaceae. The unique characters of the phyllomes provide new information on the floral diversity of Altingiaceae. The emergence of Paleoaltingia in Late Cretaceous sediments of Northeastern North America represents the earliest fossil record of Altingiaceae and provides new insights into its biogeography.