Eckhartiopsis E.M.FRIIS, P.R.CRANE et K.R.PEDERSEN, 2019

Friis, Else Marie, Crane, Peter R. & Pedersen, Kaj Raunsgaard, 2019, The Early Cretaceous Mesofossil Flora Of Torres Vedras (Ne Of Forte Da Forca), Portugal: A Palaeofloristic Analysis Of An Early Angiosperm Community, Fossil Imprint 75 (2), pp. 153-257 : 215

Genus Eckhartiopsis E.M.FRIIS, P.R.CRANE et K.R.PEDERSEN gen. nov.

T y p e. Designated here. Eckhartiopsis parva E.M.FRIIS ,

P.R.CRANE et K.R.PEDERSEN gen. et sp. nov.

P l a n t F o s s i l N a m e s R e g i s t r y N u m b e r.

PFN000475 (for new genus).

E t y m o l o g y. From the generic name Eckhartia and Greek: -opsis (appearance) to indicate close similarity between the two taxa.

D i a g n o s i s. Stamens with long tetrasporangiate and dithecate anthers. Pollen grains small, almost circular in equatorial outline, monocolpate, colpus extending for the full length of the grains. Exine semitectate-reticulate and columellate. Reticulum heterobrochate; heteropolar with coarser reticulum on proximal face than on distal face. Muri smooth with flattened to slightly rounded profiles, supported by long distinct columellae. Colpus margin distinct, microreticulate, lacking psilate regions around the end of the colpus. Colpus membrane granular. Orbicules large, dentate, densely scattered on inner surface of the anther wall.

C o m m e n t s o n t h e g e n u s. The anthers and in situ pollen grains of Eckhartiopsis are closely similar to those of Eckhartia , and all have tooth-like orbicules. However, the anther is broader with more protruding sporangia and the pollen grains differ in their heteropolar reticulum and the absence of psilate regions at the ends of the colpi.