Palaeophytocrene sp., Del Rio C. & De Franceschi, 2020

Rio, Cédric Del & Franceschi, Dario De, 2020, Icacinaceae fossil fruits from three sites of the Paris Basin (early Eocene, France): local diversity and global biogeographic implications, Geodiversitas 42 (2), pp. 17-28 : 24

Palaeophytocrene sp.

( Fig. 4C )

LOCALITY. — Grès de Belleu.

STRATIGRAPHY. — Cuisian.

SPECIMEN. — MNHN.F.8061 .

DESCRIPTION

Endocarp locule cast oval in lateral view. Apex rounded, apparently symmetrical, base flattened, symmetrical. Outer part of locule cast pitted, apparently not ridged (specimen abraded). Pits circular to elongate, about 0.58-0.86 (avg. 0.72 mm) in width, 0.82-1.02 (avg. 0.94) mm in length, randomly arranged, with 8-10 pits in length, 5-6 pits in width (about 60 pits by face). Pits associated with conical to parallel-sided protuberances. Locule cast length 21 mm, width 12 mm.

REMARKS AND AFFINITIES

This occurrence is represented by a single specimen. The outer part of the locule cast with pits and tubercles, parallelsided or conical shape (revealed by a silicone mould of the pits), allows the attribution of this specimen to Palaeophytocrene. Thus, this specimen represents the first occurrence of Palaeophytocrene from the Paris Basin. In term of size, this specimen seems to be close to the London Clay species ( Reid & Chandler 1933) Palaeophytocrene ambigua Reid & Chandler and Palaeophytocrene foveolata Reid & Chandler, but P. ambigua endocarps has fewer and smaller pits and P. foveolata has smaller pits as well. P. vancouverensis Rankin & Stockey ( Rankin et al. 2008), from Vancouver island, corresponds in pit diameter and pit number (in length and in width). However, the poor anatomical preservation of MNHN.F.8061. does not allow us to assign this fossil to any species.

Figures

FIG. 4. — A, B, Iodes sp. (MNHN.F.8100): A, lateral view of the endocast; B, vascular bundle embedded on the endocarp wall (arrow); C, Palaeophytocrene sp. (MNHN.F.8061), lateral view. Scale bars: A-C, 5 mm; B, 1 mm.