Pinus escalantensis, sp. nov., a New Permineralized Cone from the Oligocene of British Columbia

Abstract

A permineralized cone from the Oligocene of Escalante Island, British Columbia, is described as a new species of Pinus. The cone is nearly cylindrical, 12 cm long x 5 cm at its maximum diameter. Its large size, resin canals in a ring in the latewood of the first growth layer, recurved bract traces, and lack of a thick zone of sclerenchyma in the cortex distinguish it from other structurally preserved cones in this genus. The new cone is most similar to Recent cones of the subgenus Pinus, section Pinus. A brief description is given of a needle of a two-needle pine found between the ovuliferous scales.