| Abstract Detail
Paleobotanical Section Leslie, Andrew [1], Herendeen, Patrick S. [2], Crane, Peter [3]. Fossil Conifers from the Upatoi Creek (Late Cretaceous) of Georgia, USA. Deposits of the Eutaw Formation (Coniacian-Santonian) from localities along Upatoi Creek in central-western Georgia, USA, have yielded a diverse assemblage of charcoalified mesofossils including specimens of conifer wood, foliage, seeds, and reproductive organs. The conifer assemblage is dominated by several foliage types similar to those produced by extant Cupressaceae and extinct Cheirolepidiaceae, as well as short shoots, fasicles, and isolated needles from Pinus and Prepinus that preserve cuticular details, internal anatomy and cellular structure. Conifer reproductive organs in this assemblage include numerous pollen cones and isolated microsporophylls similar to those produced by extant members of Cupressaceae and Pinaceae and one well-preserved pollen cone that is most likely a new species with taxodiaceous affinities. Ovulate reproductive organs include a pinaceous ovulate cone base with several attached ovulate scales as well as many specimens of isolated ovulate scales similar to those produced by extant Pinus and taxodiaceous conifers. These mesofossils provide detailed anatomical and morphological information about Late Cretaceous conifers that is useful in understanding the diversity of modern conifer families in the Late Cretaceous and the evolutionary relationships between fossil and extant conifer taxa.
Log in to add this item to your schedule
1 - University of Chicago, Department of Geophysical Sciences, 5734 S. Ellis Avenue, Chicago, Illinois, 60637, USA
2 - George Washington University, Biological Sciences, 2023 G St.NW, Washington, DC, 20052, USA
3 - University of Chicago, Department of Geophysical Sciences, 5734 S. Ellis Avenue, Chicago, Illinois, 60637, USA
Keywords:
mesofossil
pollen cone
Conifer.
Presentation Type: Oral Paper:Papers for Sections
Session: 13
Location: 169/Law
Date: Monday, July 28th, 2008
Time: 10:30 AM
Number: 13002
Abstract ID:88 |
