Carpolithes sp. 9

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

Carpolithes sp. 9

Text-fig. 9q, r

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

PAL 772374.

D e s c r i p t i o n. A half spherical to broadly elliptical structure in lateral view and cross section, 5.3 by 4.9 mm in cross section, the height on the broken axis 3.15 mm, suggesting an overall height of about 6 mm. The surface of the structure very smooth, possibly with a faint cellular pattern. No internal structure or evidence of a cellular wall in cross-section.

D i s c u s s i o n. The smooth, spherical shape of this structure, coupled with the possible faint surficial pattern of cells suggests it is possibly a seed, but we can offer no further attribution.

Figures

Text-fig. 9. Carpolithes (a–r). a–d: Carpolithes sp. 5. USNM PAL 772370. Scale bar = 5mm, reflected light, palladium coated. a: Lateral view of seed, apex up, possible raphe descending from apex toward viewer. b: Lateral view of seed, apex up, possible raphe on right. c: Lateral view, opposite side, apex up, possible raphe on left. d: Apical view, note central pit with raphe descending towards bottom margin. e–h: Carpolithes sp. 6. USNM PAL 772371. Scale bar = 5mm. e: Basal view illustrating depression and keel in plane of bisymmetry, reflectedlight, palladium coated. f–h: Micro-CTscansurface rendering.f: Lateralviewshowingrelatively smoothrounded surface. g: Specimen rotated 180° from (f), surface partially eroded. h: Longitudinal view, showing median keel. i–m: Carpolithes sp. 7 USNM PAL 772372. Scale bar = 5mm. i: View of intact face of globose fruit, possible apical constriction at top. j: Lateral view, intact surface to right, possible apical constriction at top, both micro-CT scan surface renderings. k: Apical view. l: Face view illustrating the mineral filling and the fine, radiating structure of the fruit wall on the left and right margins, both reflected light, palladium coated. m: Closeup of the cellular layer on the left of (l), micro-CT scan surface rendering. n–p: Carpolithes sp. 8. USNM PAL 772373. Scale bar = 3mm, reflected light, palladium coated. n: Lateral view of pyrene-like structure, one ridge running vertically in the center of view, the other two forming the left and right margins. o: Lateral view of pyrene-like structure, ridge in (n) on the left. p: End-on view illustrating one convex, one concave, and one relatively flat to very slightly concave face. q, r: Carpolithes sp. 9 USNM PAL 772374. Scale bar = 5mm, reflected light, palladium coated. q: Exterior of the smooth broken half-sphere. r: Interior of the broken half-sphere.