Carpolithes sp.

Tiffney, Bruce H. & Manchester, Steven R., 2022, The Early Middle Eocene Wagon Bed Carpoflora Of Central Wyoming, U. S. A., Fossil Imprint 78 (1), pp. 51-79 : 72-73

publication ID

https://doi.org/ 10.37520/fi.2022.004

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/039C6431-0821-FFC9-A04B-9290D716FD9F

treatment provided by

Felipe

scientific name

Carpolithes sp.
status

 

Carpolithes sp. 10

Text-fig. 10a–d View Text-fig

M a t e r i a l. One specimen, chalcedony cast, USNM

PAL 772375.

D e s c r i p t i o n. Elliptic in lateral view, narrowly elliptic in cross section, tapering from the inferred base to the apex, 9.8 mm in length, 7.2 mm by 5.8 mm in widest cross section. Surface largely obscured by adherent sediment forming a rough texture, but missing on one side, revealing a smooth, finely textured surface with a thin longitudinal groove flanked by two low ridges ( Text-fig. 10c View Text-fig ). Base and apex obscured.

D i s c u s s i o n. The adherent sediment likely reflects the mold that enclosed the cast of the original structure which is only partially exposed. The thin groove is suggestive of a point of dehiscence, although it might also be a raphe; the absence of data from both sides of the specimen makes this impossible to decide.

Carpolithes sp. 11 Text fig. 10e–j

M a t e r i a l. Six specimens, chalcedony, including

USNM PAL 772376, 772377.

D e s c r i p t i o n. Items round in face view, a flattened ovoid in lateral view. One face generally broadly convex and flattened, the other often slightly concave to flat with a central or slightly lateral emergent ridge or protuberance. Surface generally smooth. 2.0 to 3.3 mm thick, ranging from 4.4 by 4.8 mm to 6.9 by 5.3 mm in diameter.

D i s c u s s i o n. The repetitive morphology of these structures was distinctive and suggestive of a biological origin, although there is no evidence of possible cellular structure or of distinctive features (e.g., lineations) that would indicate vasculature or dehiscence. While we illustrate one of these examples here as Carpolithes , we suspect they may be abiotic.

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