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

Friis, Else Marie, Crane, Peter R., Pedersen, Kaj Raunsgaard, Mendes, Mário Miguel & Kvaček, Jiří, 2022, The Early Cretaceous Mesofossil Flora Of Catefica, Portugal: Angiosperms, Fossil Imprint 78 (2), pp. 341-424 : 385

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

Text-fig. 30a–f

D e s c r i p t i o n a n d r e m a r k s. The material comprises two adhering stamens (only one cut stamen illustrated) with dithecate, tetrasporangiate anthers ( Text-fig. 30a ) and in situ pollen. The stamens are about 1 mm long and 0.25 mm broad with a distinct, triangular apical extension of the connective. One stamen was cut transversely into two pieces to expose the pollen for SEM. The other stamen was removed for TEM. Stamens and anthers are closely similar to Kempia longicolpites described from the Torres Vedras locality ( Friis et al. 2019a) and the specimen is assigned here to the same species. Pollen grains are small, about 11– 12 µm long, monoaperturate and with the colpus extending beyond the full length of the grains. The exine is semitectatereticulate, columellate ( Text-fig. 30b–f ) with the reticulum and columellae only loosely attached to the foot layer ( Text-fig. 30f ). The muri have a rounded profile and a smooth surface ( Text-fig. 30c ). The foot layer is thick, and the endexine is restricted to the apertural region ( Text-fig. 30e ).

A f f i n i t y a n d o t h e r o c c u r r e n c e s. Kempia longicolpites was first described from the Torres Vedras locality ( Friis et al. 2019a) and is currently known from only the Torres Vedras and Catefica mesofossil floras.

Figures

Text-fig. 30. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) images of anther and pollen of Kempia longicolpites; Catefica locality, Portugal. a) Transverse section through an anther showing the four pollen sacs with in situ pollen; b) Pollen in situ from anther in (a) showing very long colpus and loosely attached reticulum; c) Detail of reticulumshowing smooth muri supported by short, scattered columellae; d) Pollen grain from anther in (a) enlarged showing colpus extended beyond the equator and loosely attached reticulum; e) Detail of pollen wall showing thick, homogeneous foot layer, columellae and reticulate tectum; note remains of granular endexine (arrows) in the apertural region of the grain; f) Internal view of reticulum showing the short columellae adhering to the muri detached from the foot layer. Specimen, Catefica 49-S101208 (a–f). Scale bars = 100 Μm (a), 20 Μm (b), 6 Μm (d), 3 Μm (c, e, f).