Zlivifructus, Hermanova, Daskova et J. Kvacek, 2017

Heřmanová, Zuzana, Kvaček, Jiří, Dašková, Jiřina & Halamski, Adam T., 2020, Plant reproductive structures and other mesofossils from Coniacian / Santonian of Lower Silesia, Poland, Palaeontologia Electronica (a 61) 23 (3), pp. 1-23 : 10-11

Zlivifructus vachae Heřmanová, Dašková et J. Kvaček, 2017

Figure 6 A-I

v2017 Zlivifructus vachae Heřmanová, Dašková et J.

Kvaček; (Z. Heřmanová et al., 2017) p. 181, pl.

1, figs. 1-9, pl. 2, figs. 1-7, pl. 3, figs. 1-2.

Holotype. Selected and illustrated by Heřmanová et al. (2017), pl. 1, fig. 1, stored in the National Museum Prague No. NMP F4557 , Late Cretaceous , Upper Turonian –Santonian, Třebeč TSv-5 borehole 106.5–107 m, Czech Republic.

Description. Two specimens from Rakowice Małe locality are round fruits, flattened to some degree. One almost completely flat ( Figure 6A ); the other more ovoid ( Figure 6D ). Lengths 1 and 0.9 mm; breadths 1.1 and 0.7 mm. Apical part of fruits convex, basal parts show scar where fruits were attached to infructescence ( Figure 6B, E ). Persistent perianth fused basally, forming hypanthium, which covers two-thirds of fruit. Lateral faces of the fruit show three indistinct ribs extending from base of fruit to margin of hypanthium. Androecium consists of four stamens ( Figure 6D ), but only basal parts of stamens are preserved. Distinct compact outer layers of the fruit wall consist of small cells. The middle layer has larger cells ( Figure 6 G-I).Surface covered with irregular thick-walled cells ( Figure 6F ).

Remarks. The present material seems to match the main diagnostic characters of the type, but it is poorly preserved. Tepals are absent in both specimens, but we interpret the preserved scars as resulting from detachment of tepals. We assume tepals attached on top of the hypanthium. Scars are immediately adjacent to each other, with indistinct boundaries and the scars form a roughly regular ring.

Range. Late Coniacian or early Santonian age.

Occurrence. Rakowice Małe locality.

Material studied. K2905, K2903; the material is housed in the National Museum Prague.

Figures

FIGURE 6. Zlivifructus vachae (A) fruit, round in outline, no. K2903 (B) apical part of fruit, no. K2903 (C) detail of epidermis, no. K2903 (D) fruit, basal pats of stamens arrowed, no. K2905 (E) apical part of fruit, no. K2905 (F) detail of epidermis, no. K2905 (G) X-ray image, longitudinal/adaxial-abaxial section of fruit, no. K2905 (H) X-ray image, longitudinal/lateral section of fruit, no. K2905 (I) X-ray image, transversal section of fruit, no. K2905. Scale bar for all images 0.1 mm. All specimens from Rakowice Małe locality.