Early Cretaceous Flora Research Articles

A first record of Cretaceous aphids (Hemiptera, Sternorrhyncha, Aphidomorpha) in Australia, from the Lower Cretaceous Koonwarra Fossil Bed, Victoria.

This paper describes the first species of aphid from the Lower Cretaceous Koonwarra Fossil Bed of the Gippsland Basin, southeastern Victoria, Australia. This aphid, herein named Koonwarraphis rotundafrons gen. & sp. nov., is assigned to the cosmopolitan Cretaceous superfamily Tajmyraphidoidea, which has been previously described from the Lebanese, Taimyrian, Canadian, Myanmar (Burmese), and Spanish ambers. Koonwarraphis rotundafrons is the first aphid recorded from the eastern Gondwanan landmass during the Cretaceous, and represents the only tajmyraphidoid preserved as a compression fossil, rather than as an amber inclusion. Due to the nature of the fossil's preservation, Koonwarraphis cannot be firmly placed in any of the described tajmyraphidoid families; however, all observable morphological features suggest that the genus is broadly typical of the superfamily and Cretaceous aphids in general. Koonwarraphis' shortened rostrum, a feature also seen in other tajmyraphidoids, suggests an association with the more herbaceous aspects of the Early Cretaceous Victorian flora. Considering the modern aphid preference for angiosperm plants, it is possible that this aphid was living upon the herbaceous early angiosperms recorded previously from the Koonwarra macrofloral assemblage.

Fossil Liverworts from the Lower Cretaceous Huolinhe Formation in Inner Mongolia, China

AbstractA new genus and species, Rebouliothallus huolinhensis sp. nov., and two uncertain species, Ricciopsis sp. and Hepaticites sp., are described. The fossils were collected from the Lower Cretaceous Huolinhe Formation of Huolinhe Basin, northeastern China. The new genus Rebouliothallus was established in the Aytoniaceae family of Marchantiales. Rebouliothallus huolinhensis appears to be quite similar to species of the extant genus Reboulia Raddi. The species is characterized by the relatively large ventral scales. Ventral scales are large, imbricate and arranged in two rows on the ventral surface. Rhizoids are either pegged or smooth. Ricciopsis sp. is characterized by the rosette‐forming thallus. Hepaticites sp. shows some similarities to liverworts. Of the forty‐nine Early Cretaceous floras of China, only two floras, one from the Huolinhe basin, Inner Mongolia and the other from the Jixi Basin, Heilongjiang Province, contain fossil liverworts. The rare fossil liverwort records in the Early Cretaceous floras of China may be the result of taphonomic bias.

Evidence of palaeo-wildfire from the upper Lower Cretaceous (Serra do Tucano Formation, Aptian–Albian) of Roraima (North Brazil)

Wood fossil charcoal is identified from the upper Lower Cretaceous (Serra do Tucano Formation, Aptian–Albian) of Roraima (North Brazil). The presence of charcoal demonstrates the occurrence of Early Cretaceous palaeo-wildfires for the first time in this region and only the third time for the entirety of South America. A gymnospermous taxonomic affinity can be established for the charred woods and a relationship with conifers is likely, thus providing additional evidence for the taxonomic composition of Early Cretaceous floras in this region.

The Early Cretaceous Flora of Razdol’naya River Basin (Primorye Region, the Russian Far East)

The Early Cretaceous Flora of Razdol’naya River Basin (Primorye Region, the Russian Far East)

Floral diversity and implications in palaeoenvironment of Vemavaram Formation (Krishna Depression), Krishna-Godavari Basin, Andhra Pradesh, India

The present study deals with the plant megafossil assemblage and associated environment of the Vemavaram Formation (Krishna Depression), Krishna–Godavari Basin, Andhra Pradesh, India. The plant fossils are collected from Vemavaram (currently known as Ommevaram), Prakasam District, Andhra Pradesh. Sixteen taxa are recognised including four new species, namely Dictyozamites ommevaramensis, Ptilophyllum heterophylla, Pagiophyllum ommevaramensis and Elatocladus loyolii alongwith twelve known species. The Early Cretaceous flora from the Vemavaram Formation is compiled and compared with the floras of Budavada Formation (Krishna Depression), Golapalli and Raghavapuram formations (Godavari Depression). The floral components of the two depressions are broadly similar and together can be referred as Krishna–Godavari basinal flora. The associated environments are reconstructed by taking into account evidences from micro–flora–pollen and spores, phytoplankton and also foraminifera.

Floristics and Paleoecology of an Early Cretaceous Flora from Jordan

Abstract Abundant plant fossils were recovered from Albian fluvial and back-swamp sediments of the Jarash Formation (Kurnub Group) of Jordan. The flora consists of angiosperms, ferns and gymnosperms. Water lily Scutifolium jordanicum, marsilealean fern Marsileaceaephyllum mahisensis and tree fern Weichselia reticulata are from a thin crevasse splay layer of a small fluvial system. Four species of other ferns, Phlebopteris hickeyi sp. nov., Piazopteris branneri, Aspidistes beckeri and Cladophlebis sp., and two gymnosperms, Zamites hoheneggeri and Brachyphyllum mamillare, are from a back-swamp dark gray carbonaceous lens. Phlebopteris hickeyi represents a new fern species that has five preserved pinnae with unique characteristics, including small sori and sporangia. The relatively small pinnules with massive midveins and grooves along either side of midveins represent a unique combination of characters. The water lily S. jordanicum and marsilealean fern M. mahisensis may have grown in ponds, lakes or slow-m...

Anatomically Preserved Early Cretaceous Bennettitalean Leaves: Nilssoniopteris corrugata n. sp. from Vancouver Island, Canada

Early Cretaceous fossilized leaves assignable to the extinct seed plant order Bennettitales occur within an exceptionally diverse Early Cretaceous (Valanginian) flora of anatomically preserved plant fossils at Apple Bay on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. One of the bennettitalean leaf types has an entire margin, with laminae that are attached near the adaxial surface of the midvein. Leaves are 10–15 mm wide with an adaxial surface that shows distinct corrugations, and a midrib that is exposed adaxially. The vascular system of the midrib consists of a crescent-shaped ring of collateral bundles. Lateral veins diverge from midrib at ∼90°, are typically simple but occasionally branch at base of the lamina. Vein density is 12–15 per cm. Leaves are hypostomatic with syndetocheilic stomata that are randomly oriented between veins. Internal anatomy consists of an adaxial hypodermis of closely-spaced isodiametric cells, mesophyll that is differentiated into adaxial palisade and abaxial spongy zones, and collateral bundles that show a distinct bundle sheath with bundle sheath extensions. This novel combination of characters represents the diverse bennettitalean genus Nilssoniopteris. Nilssoniopteris corrugata new species is only the second species of the genus for which internal anatomy is preserved. This species increases the known variation of bennettitalean leaf anatomy, and reinforces our appreciation for the global distribution of bennettitalean seed plants during the Mesozoic.

Anatomically Preserved Early Cretaceous Bennettitalean Leaves: Nilssoniopteris corrugata n. sp. from Vancouver Island, Canada

Early Cretaceous fossilized leaves assignable to the extinct seed plant order Bennettitales occur within an exceptionally diverse Early Cretaceous (Valanginian) flora of anatomically preserved plant fossils at Apple Bay on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. One of the bennettitalean leaf types has an entire margin, with laminae that are attached near the adaxial surface of the midvein. Leaves are 10–15 mm wide with an adaxial surface that shows distinct corrugations, and a midrib that is exposed adaxially. The vascular system of the midrib consists of a crescent-shaped ring of collateral bundles. Lateral veins diverge from midrib at ∼90°, are typically simple but occasionally branch at base of the lamina. Vein density is 12–15 per cm. Leaves are hypostomatic with syndetocheilic stomata that are randomly oriented between veins. Internal anatomy consists of an adaxial hypodermis of closely-spaced isodiametric cells, mesophyll that is differentiated into adaxial palisade and abaxial spongy zones, and collateral bundles that show a distinct bundle sheath with bundle sheath extensions. This novel combination of characters represents the diverse bennettitalean genus Nilssoniopteris. Nilssoniopteris corrugata new species is only the second species of the genus for which internal anatomy is preserved. This species increases the known variation of bennettitalean leaf anatomy, and reinforces our appreciation for the global distribution of bennettitalean seed plants during the Mesozoic.

The Early Cretaceous flora from the Wealden facies at Duingen, Germany

A middle latitude (c. 40° N) flora from the Lower Cretaceous of Duingen, north-western Germany, has been investigated. The newly collected fossils are preserved as impressions and compressions, some yielding cuticular details. Twenty-one species have been identified. The flora is dominated by ginkgophytes and conifers, whilst other groups such as Nilssoniales and Bennettitales represent minor portions of the vegetation. The bennettitaleans may be among the youngest of this group in Europe and one sphenophyte and a few ferns are also present. Two new species are described (viz. Nilssonia kurwia and Williamsonia joanwatsoniae) and one new combination (viz. Ptilophyllum aequale) is made. The composition of the flora is similar to that of other floras from the German Wealden, but exhibits certain differences from the English Wealden. The Duingen flora is compared to nearby and more remote Early Cretaceous floras of the Northern Hemisphere revealing a general need for revision of the German Wealden to improve correlation with more remote floras. The Duingen fossil flora derives from an established mixed temperate ginkgoalean–conifer forest with bennettites and Nilssoniales as minor, understorey components, most likely restricted to the moister coastal fringes of the forest.

Vegetational composition of the Early Cretaceous Chicalhão flora (Lusitanian Basin, western Portugal) based on palynological and mesofossil assemblages

A new Early Cretaceous flora is described from the Lusitanian Basin in the Estremadura region (western Portugal) based on a combined study of mesofossils and palynomorphs. The fossil specimens were extracted from samples collected in the Chicalhão clay pit complex, near the village of Juncal from sediments belonging to the Figueira da Foz Formation. The plant bearing sequence is considered to be of Late Aptian–Early Albian age. Palynomorphs and mesofossils are generally well-preserved and include about 63 taxa. The palynoflora is dominated by conifer pollen and fern spores. Angiosperm pollen is also present, but subordinate among the palynomorphs. In contrast, angiosperms completely dominate the mesofossil flora and are mainly represented by fruits and seeds. Four taxa of angiosperm flowers were also identified. The combined palaeobotanical and sedimentological evidence indicates seasonally dry climate and an open vegetation consisting of a mixed conifer forest with an understorey and ground cover of ferns and angiosperms and with patchy occurrences of lycophytes and plants of the Bennettitales–Erdtmanithecales–Gnetales (BEG) group. Angiosperms probably inhabited moister areas bordering rivers and lakes.

Occurrences of Early Cretaceous fossil woods in China: Implications for paleoclimates

The Chinese Early Cretaceous flora was divided phytogeographically into the Northern Floristic Province and the Southern Floristic Province. The “temperate–wet vegetations” and “tropic–subtropic xeric vegetations” were proposed to represent the two different vegetation types. About 52 species of fossil woods belonging to Cycadophytes (2 species), Ginkgoales (1 species) and coniferales (49 species) have been discovered in the two floristic provinces, mainly from the Northeast China. The biodiversity and anatomical characteristics, especially the growth ring feature analysis of fossil woods indicated climatic conditions with seasonal variation in both the Northern and Southern Floristic Provinces during the Early Cretaceous. It suggests that a tropic to sub-tropic semi-arid climate might dominate over southern China, while warm or temperate, and wet climate prevailed in northern China during the Early Cretaceous. The wood evidence is in accordance with that of the leaf fossils collected from the corresponding formations of the Early Cretaceous in China.

Honeggeriella complexa gen. et sp. nov., a heteromerous lichen from the Lower Cretaceous of Vancouver Island (British Columbia, Canada)

Colonists of even the most inhospitable environments, lichens are present in all terrestrial ecosystems. Because of their ecological versatility and ubiquity, they have been considered excellent candidates for early colonizers of terrestrial environments. Despite such predictions, good preservation potential, and the extant diversity of lichenized fungi, the fossil record of lichen associations is sparse. Unequivocal lichen fossils are rare due, in part, to difficulties in ascertaining the presence of both symbionts and in characterizing their interactions. This study describes an exceptionally well-preserved heteromerous lichen from the Lower Cretaceous of Vancouver Island. The fossil occurs in a marine carbonate concretion collected from the Apple Bay locality on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, and was prepared for light microscopy and SEM using the cellulose acetate peel technique. The lichen, Honeggeriella complexa gen. et sp. nov., is formed by an ascomycete mycobiont and a chlorophyte photobiont, and exhibits heteromerous thallus organization. This is paired with a mycobiont-photobiont interface characterized by intracellular haustoria, previously not documented in the fossil record. Honeggeriella adds a lichen component to one of the richest and best characterized Early Cretaceous floras and provides a significant addition to the sparse fossil record of lichens. As a heteromerous chlorolichen, it bridges the >350 million-year gap between previously documented Early Devonian and Eocene occurrences.

A new uppermost Albian flora from Teruel province, northeastern Spain

ABSTRACT This paper reports a new Early Cretaceous flora discovered recently near the village of Estercuel (Teruel province, northeastern Spain). The plant bearing beds belong to the uppermost part of the Early Cretaceous succession, at the top of the fluvial deposits of the Utrillas Formation. The site has yielded a diverse assemblage of plant compressions including lycopods and ferns, various gymnosperms as well as terrestrial and aquatic angiosperms. Leaves of aquatic lycopods (Isoetites sp.) constitute a minor component of the palaeobotanical assemblage. Filicales are not very common, with Dicksoniales (Onychiopsis sp.) and a few specimens of Cladophlebis type fronds. The gymnosperms are represented by fragmented remains of long parallel veined Desmiophyllum leaves as well as a great abundance of conifer axis corresponding to the form-genus Pagiophyllum and female cones. Terrestrial angiosperms include pinnately lobed leaves of the genus Myricompia, simple leaves with spatulate lamina and some petiola...

445 Early Cretaceous flora from the Tetori Group in the Oguchi area, Hakusan City, Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan

445 Early Cretaceous flora from the Tetori Group in the Oguchi area, Hakusan City, Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan

Transition process of early Cretaceous flora from the Akaiwa Formation of the Tetori Group in Hakusan City, Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan

Transition process of early Cretaceous flora from the Akaiwa Formation of the Tetori Group in Hakusan City, Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan

An Early Cretaceous flora from Cusano Mutri, Benevento, southern Italy

A new Early Cretaceous, late Aptian plant assemblage collected near the village of Cusano Mutri in the southern Apennines (Campania, Italy) is examined. The fossils consist mainly of impressions and compressions of sterile foliage shoots and reproductive structures of conifers, and a few angiosperm leaves. Cuticular analyses are provided. The genera Cupressinocladus, Pagiophyllum, Araucarites, Frenelopsis and Montsechia are documented. The occurrence of Montsechia vidalii outside of Spain is recorded for the first time. A description of a new cheirolepidiacean species, Frenelopsis cusanensis is supplied and macroscopical and cuticular characters as seen under light and scanning electron microscopes are given. Xeromorphic features displayed by almost all taxa suggest semi-arid or arid conditions in a subtropical or tropical climate. The floral assemblage displays a strong affinity with the Euro-Sinian Province of the Northern Hemisphere, which is confirmed by the absence of typical Gondwanan representatives. The discovery of this new late Aptian flora in the Apenninic Carbonate Platform domain and its palaeoecological significance provide new insights into the relationships between the platform and the mainland within the Early Cretaceous Tethyan realm.

Early cretaceous flora from Vale Painho (Lusitanian basin, western Portugal): An integrated palynological and mesofossil study

Mesofossil and palynomorphs of probable Berriasian age is described from Cretaceous sediments exposed in the Bombarral formation near the village of Juncal in the Estremadura region (western Portugal). Both the palynoflora and mesofossil flora are poor in species diversity and in number of specimens. The palynological assemblage is dominated by pteridophytes and gymnosperms. The mesofossil flora is dominated by conifer seeds and seeds assigned to the Bennettitales–Erdtmanithecales–Gnetales group. The associations indicate the presence of a coniferous forest dominated by Cheirolepidiaceae with a grown cover and understory vegetation of ferns and other pteridophytes as well as members of the BEG group. The fossil floras indicate a warm, seasonally dry climate. The local and regional sedimentological data also point to a seasonal climate with a prolonged dry season. The vegetational and environmental signal from the Portuguese flora is in accordance with that of other, contemporaneous floras of northern Europe (southern England, Bornholm/Denmark and Germany).

Новый вид Pseudotorellia Florin (Ginkgoales) из верхнемеловых отложений Лено-Вилюйской впадины (Восточная Сибирь)

Новый вид Pseudotorellia Florin (Ginkgoales) из верхнемеловых отложений Лено-Вилюйской впадины (Восточная Сибирь)

The Fossil Flora of the Winthrop Formation (Albian-Early Cretaceous) of Washington State, USA. Part II: Pinophytina

ABSTRACT The Winthrop Flora is of middle to late Albian age (Early Cretaceous) and occurs in the Methow basin of north-central Washington State, USA. With an estimated diversity of more than 150 species, the Winthrop is the most diverse flora yet described from the Early Cretaceous of North America. This paper deals with the 38 species of gymnosperms or Pinophytina of the Winthrop Formation, consisting of three species of Pteridospermopsida, three of Cycadopsida, three of Ginkgoopsida, nine of Bennittopsida, 15 of conifers or Pinopsida, and five species whose assignment is uncertain below the level of the gymnosperms. We describe four new genera and 21 new species of Pinophytina. Overall, the gymnosperm component of the flora is concordant with that of other late Early Cretaceous floras of the Northern Hemisphere. However, several of its species are similar to those found in Jurassic sediments from Mexico and Central America and some of the cycadophytes and conifers have what we interpret as xeromorphic f...

Erdtmanitheca portucalensis, a new pollen organ from the Early Cretaceous (Aptian–Albian) of Portugal with Eucommiidites-type pollen

A new lignitised, slightly compressed pollen organ, Erdtmanitheca portucalensis, with affinities to extinct Erdtmanithecales from the Early Cretaceous (Aptian–Albian) of Vale de Água (Lusitanian Basin, western Portugal), is described. The pollen organ is composed of loosely arranged microsporophylls radiating from a central core. The estimated number of microsporophylls is about 100–150. The microsporophylls are sessile and ellipsoidal to barrel-shaped with a flattened or slightly apically depression containing about ten narrow sporangia. The sporangia enclose abundant well-preserved pollen grains of Eucommiidites-type. Pollen grains found in situ are elliptical in equatorial outline, about 16.0–27.2 μm long and 11.9–16.4 μm wide. The main (distal) colpus is long with expanded rounded ends. It is flanked by two subsidiary colpi in an almost equatorial position. The surface of the pollen wall is psilate and occasionally punctate. The ektexine is composed of a distinct tectum, granular infratectal layer and a thin foot layer. The endexine is thick and laminar. The new Early Cretaceous Portuguese pollen-organ is similar in several respects to that of Erdtmanitheca texensis described from the Late Cretaceous of Texas, USA. The new fossil species further documents the importance of the Bennettitales-Erdtmanithecales-Gnetales group in the Early Cretaceous floras of Portugal extending the stratigraphic and geographical distribution of the genus with regard to systematic and phylogenetic significance of the Eucommiidites-producing plants that may have been co-occurring with the Early Cretaceous diversification of angiosperms. It is ascertained that perforate tectum occurs in pollen grains with a well-developed foot layer as well as in pollen grains in which a foot layer is poorly developed or lacking, and that pollen features do not support a separation of the Erdtmanithecales seeds and pollen organs.