Choffaticarpus compactus 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 : 370

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

Text-fig. 19d, e

Description and remarks. The material comprises a fragment of an apocarpous, multicarpellate fruiting structure with tightly packed, helically arranged fruitlets ( Text-fig. 19d ), as well as several isolated fruitlets ( Text-fig. 19e ). The fruitlets are strongly compressed laterally with a short attachment scar on the adaxial face, and a distinctive deep furrow on the diamond-shaped abaxial face ( Text-fig. 19d, e ). Each fruitlet contains a single seed. The large circular, sunken regions seen in many fruitlets ( Text-fig. 19e ) may be collapsed oil cells, but details of the outer cell layers of the fruit wall are not clear from SRXTM analyses.

Affinity and other occurrences. Choffaticarpus compactus was formally described from the Torres Vedras mesofossil flora ( Friis et al. 2019a) and compared to pistillate structures of extant Kadsura KAEMPF. ex JUSS. and Schisandra MICHX. ( Schisandraceae , Austrobaileyales ). However, Choffaticarpus differs in seed coat structure and the systematic relationships of the fossil are currently unresolved ( Friis et al. 2019a). A complete Choffaticarpus fruiting structure, as well as fragments of fruiting structures and isolated fruitlets, are also known from the Buarcos mesofossil flora (see comments in Friis et al. 2019a) and will be the subject of future studies ( E. M. Friis, P. R. Crane and K. R. Pedersen, work in progress).

Figures

Text-fig. 19. Synchrotron radiation X-ray tomographic microscopy (SRXTM, a–c) of Aristospermum huberi and scanning electron microscope (SEM, d, e) images of Choffaticarpus compactus; Catefica locality, Portugal. a) Volume rendering of strongly flattened, triangular seed with pointed micropylar region; note thin-walled cells of outer integument preserved along the margins of the seed and pitted surface of the crystalliferous inner cells of outer integument where the outer cells are abraded and the narrow, lateral funicle/raphe; b) Volume rendering of seed showing surface of inner integument (endotesta) with cells showing clear imprints of crystals (arrows); c) Longitudinal section (orthoslice yz0241) of seed showing crystalliferous cells of endotesta (white arrows) and the two fiber layers of the tegmen that are perpendicular to each other (inner integument, ii-f, black arrows); d) Fragment of multiparted, apocarpous fruiting structure showing several helically-arranged, laterally flattened, fruitlets; e) Fruitlet in lateral view showing the prominent ventral face with its lateral groove, short attachment scar, and sunken regions of the fruit wall that indicate the probable presence of oil cells. Specimens, Catefica 49-S266049 (a–c), Catefica 49-S172558 (d), Catefica 49-S118675 (e). Scale bars = 300 Μm (a, c–e), 100 Μm (b).