The type of Palmocarpon cretaceum Miq., 1853 described from the Cretaceous of the Sint-Pietersberg, The Netherlands, is an Eocene Nypa burtinii (Brongn.) Ettingsh., 1879, most likely from the Brussels area, Belgium

Abstract

The study of a few putative palm macrofossils from the type area of the Maastrichtian Stage appeared to have important implications for understanding the composition of the fossil flora of the area, as well as for the nomenclature of fossil palm fruits in general. The type specimen of the palm fruit Palmocarpon cretaceum Miq., 1853 described from the Cretaceous of the Maastrichtian type area belongs to Nypa burtinii (Brongn.) Ettingsh., 1879 from the Eocene, most probably from the Brussels area. The material mentioned by Ubaghs (1885a, b, 1887) as Palmocarpon cretaceum does not represent fossil palm fruits. Therefore, palm pollen is the only evidence for the presence of palms (Arecaceae, or Palmae, excl. Nypa) in the Cretaceous of the Maastrichtian type area. Palmocarpon Miq., 1853 is proposed here as a nomen rejiciendum, and the genus Palmocarpon Lesq., 1878 as a nomen conservandum.