Myrtophyllum” torreyi (LESQUEREUX) DORF

Manchester, Steven R., 2014, Revisions To Roland Brown’S North American Paleocene Flora, Acta Musei Nationalis Pragae Series B 70 (3 - 4), pp. 153-210 : 159

“ Myrtophyllum” torreyi (LESQUEREUX) DORF

This species is a rare element of the Paleocene flora. In their discussion of the mid-Cretaceous chloranthaceous species, Crassidenticulum decurrens (LESQUEREUX) UPCHURCH et DILCHER, Upchurch and Dilcher (1990) noted that “ C. decurrens ” closely resembles “ Myrtophyllum ” torreyi (LESQUEREUX) DORF , such as specimens photographically illustrated by Brown (1962, pl. 50, figs 1–4, 7–9), in nearly all preserved features but differs in having secondary veins that arch apically and directly enter the teeth, rather than connect with an intramarginal vein. Thus, while the two species may be congeneric, they are distinct.” Accordingly, the leaves of M. torreyi may also represent Chloranthaceae . The genus Myrtophyllum HEER (1869) (non TURCZ.), based on a type from the Cretaceous of Bohemia, is inappropriate to accommodate this species.

Monocots

Monocots in the Paleocene of the Rocky Mountain and Great Plains region include palms, gingers, and aquatic araceous representatives. The palms include leaves named Chamaedorea danae (LESQUEREUX) BERRY , Paloreodoxites plicatus (LESQUEREUX) KNOWLTON [Fossil genus of Knowlton, accepted by Read and Hickey 1972], Sabal grayana LESQUEREUX , S. imperialis DAWSON , S. powellii NEWBERRY [= Sabalites powellii (NEWBERRY) E.W. BERRY sensu Read and Hickey ], Thrinax dorfii R. W. BROWN [= Palmacites dorfii (R.W. BROWN) READ et HICKEY ].

Araceae