William L Crepet1, Kevin C Nixon2, David Grimaldi3, Mark Riccio4. 1. 412 Mann Library, Plant Biology Section, School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853 USA wlc1@cornell.edu. 2. L. H. Bailey Hortorium, Plant Biology, School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853 USA. 3. Division of Invertebrate Biology, American Museum of Natural History, New York, New York 10024-5192 USA. 4. Biotechnology Center, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853 USA.
Abstract
PREMISE OF THE STUDY: The floral history of early angiosperms is far from complete. The fossil discussed here has the potential to expand our knowledge of timing, reproductive biology, and paleobiogeography in early angiosperms. METHODS: Cutting-edge methodologies in CT scanning in conjunction with tomography software have opened new possibilities for discovering details in amber-preserved fossils that were inaccessible for meaningful study in the past. KEY RESULTS: The fossil is small and complex, cupulate, with numerous stamens and a suite of characters distributed in the modern families of Laurales. The most parsimonious placement of the fossil based on morphology is as a sister taxon of Atherospermataceae + Gomortega (Gomortegaceae). CONCLUSIONS: This fossil taxon, a Laurasian Lauralean from the mid-Cretaceous, is an important example of fossil Laurales with implications for biogeography and timing in the radiation and extinction in this group.
PREMISE OF THE STUDY: The floral history of early angiosperms is far from complete. The fossil discussed here has the potential to expand our knowledge of timing, reproductive biology, and paleobiogeography in early angiosperms. METHODS: Cutting-edge methodologies in CT scanning in conjunction with tomography software have opened new possibilities for discovering details in amber-preserved fossils that were inaccessible for meaningful study in the past. KEY RESULTS: The fossil is small and complex, cupulate, with numerous stamens and a suite of characters distributed in the modern families of Laurales. The most parsimonious placement of the fossil based on morphology is as a sister taxon of Atherospermataceae + Gomortega (Gomortegaceae). CONCLUSIONS: This fossil taxon, a Laurasian Lauralean from the mid-Cretaceous, is an important example of fossil Laurales with implications for biogeography and timing in the radiation and extinction in this group.
Authors: Manuela Sann; Oliver Niehuis; Ralph S Peters; Christoph Mayer; Alexey Kozlov; Lars Podsiadlowski; Sarah Bank; Karen Meusemann; Bernhard Misof; Christoph Bleidorn; Michael Ohl Journal: BMC Evol Biol Date: 2018-05-18 Impact factor: 3.260