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The pollen record from Lagunas de Mojanda, located at 3748 m a.s.l. (northern Ecuadorian Andes) reflects the vegetation and climate dynamics for the last ca 3400 cal yr BP. Páramo vegetation has been the main vegetation type since the beginning of the record. At Lagunas de Mojanda, from the last ca 3400 to 2200 cal yr BP, grass páramo was well represented mainly by Poaceae (40%) and the occurrence of Valeriana (5%), while montane forest taxa were poorly represented and subpáramo taxa were rare. The vegetation composition suggests cool and humid conditions. Between ca 2200 and ca 1300 cal yr BP, montane rainforest and subpáramo taxa had a higher presence but páramo taxa remained the main vegetation type in the study area, suggesting cool climatic conditions. From ca 1300 to ca 500 cal yr BP, páramo vegetation remained stable, with higher presence of Phlegmariurus and Isoetes, suggesting cool and humid conditions. The last ca 500 cal yr BP generally show lower frequency of montane rainforest and subpáramo taxa. Páramo vegetation reached the highest share, with the presence of Poaceae, Plantago and Ranunculus suggesting a trend of peat bog drying. Fires were present during the whole record, perhaps human-caused, but the study area does not show great disturbance except from ca 1300 to 500 cal yr BP, a period of an evident higher influx of charcoal particles coincidentally with nearby ancient human occupation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The early Burdigalian (MN3) plant assemblage of the Güvem area (northwestern Central Anatolia) is preserved in lacustrine sediments of the Dereköy pyroclastics. Its age is well constrained by radiometric dates of basaltic rocks bracketing the pyroclastics, making the Güvem flora one of the extremely few precisely dated early Miocene floras in the Mediterranean region. The rich assemblage of impression fossils comprises ferns and fern allies (2 species), gymnosperms (12 spp.) and angiosperms (129 spp.). Ilex miodipyrena sp. nov. is described as a new fossil-species. The most diverse families in the assemblage are the Fagaceae with 12 taxa and the Fabaceae with 12 leaf morphotypes and one fruit taxon. Aquatic plants are represented by seven taxa, riparian (including palms) and swamp forest elements by >35 taxa, and lianas by three taxa (Smilax spp., Chaneya). The relatively large number of aquatic and riparian/swamp elements is congruent with the rich fish, amphibian and reptile record of the Güvem area. Another characteristic feature of the plant assemblage is the presence of various lobed leaves which show similarities with modern species of different families (e.g. Alangium, various Malvales). Trees and shrubs growing on well-drained soils and forming closed-canopy and open-canopy forests are the most diversified group (>70 taxa). In terms of number of specimens in the collection and based on field observations, by far the most abundant leaf fossils belong to evergreen oaks of Quercus drymeja and Q. mediterranea and to various types of foliage that cannot be assigned to a particular extant or extinct genus of Fagaceae. These sclerophyllous trees must have covered vast areas surrounding the wetlands that developed during the early Miocene in the Güvem Basin. Based on a recent reassessment of the ecology and taxonomic affinity of these trees, they are considered to reflect humid temperate climatic conditions but with a brief drier season during the winter months. These forests are more similar to the laurel forests of the southeastern United States and those stretching in a narrow belt south of the Himalayas to eastern central China. The large number of Fabaceae may indicate the presence of warm subtropical environments but this is difficult to assess, as they are known for having wide ecological ranges today and in the past. All in all, a larger part of the plant taxa point to forested vegetation. This is in agreement with previous palynological studies which detected only small amounts of herbaceous and grass pollen. Open patches of vegetation may have been restricted to river banks and to rocky areas in a volcanic landscape. The biogeographic patterns detected for the early Miocene of the Güvem assemblage are manifold; most taxa are widespread Northern Hemispheric elements. A substantial part of the species migrated from Asia into Europe during the (late) Paleogene and reached Anatolia during the early Miocene (Fagus, Paliurus, Chaneya, Ailanthus, Quercus kubinyii, Davallia haidingeri, Acer angustilobum, A. palaeosaccharinum). Fewer taxa may have been in Anatolia before they migrated to Europe (e.g. Nerium, Smilax miohavanensis, Quercus sosnowskyi). Finally, very few taxa are Anatolian endemics (e.g. Ilex miodipyrena). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comptonia comptoniifolia (Brongn.) Doweld, comb. nov., based on the recently rediscovered Phyllites comptoniifolius Brongn., is reinstated based upon priority as the earliest validly published species name in place of the previously incorrectly used C. acutiloba Brongn. and C. difformis (Sternb.) E.W. Berry (Aspleniopteris difformis Sternb.; Asplenium difforme Sternb. non R. Br.). Comptonia japonica Krysht. is shown to be the earliest validly published name instead of the previously widely accepted Comptoniphyllum naumannii Nath. A new genus, Paracomptonia gen. nov., is proposed instead of the previously invalidly published Dryandrophyllum Velen., being based on the formerly segregated Comptonia subg. Avushia Zhilin, with transference of two Cretaceous Dryandra species, D. cretacea, and D. yakovlevii, and one Palaeogene species, D. schrankii, into Paracomptonia. The aberrant fossil species of Western Siberian Comptonia, based on fruit endocarps with a superficial resemblance to the extant genus, are reclassified and transferred into the recircumscribed and amplified distinct fossil genus Carpinicarpus, which is reinstated as a validly published genus instead of the anomalous Comptonia section ?Comptoniella P.I. Dorof.: Carpinicarpus debilis (V.P. Nikit.) Doweld, comb. nov., C. dorofeevii (V.P. Nikit.) Doweld, comb. nov., C. gorbunovii (P.I. Dorof.) Doweld, comb. nov., and C. tymensis (P.I. Dorof.) Doweld, comb. nov. Comptonia japonica is neotypified; Paracomptonia cretacea (Velen.) Doweld comb. nov., P. yakovlevii (Palib.) Doweld, comb. nov. and P. schrankii (Sternb.) Doweld, comb. nov. are lectotypified for the first time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nomenclature of some fossil and extant homonyms of Typha (Typhaceae) is resolved. Fossil Typha elongata P.I. Dorofeev 1982, being an illegitimate later homonym of extant Typha elongata Pauquy 1834, is renamed T. asiatica nom. nov. Typha sibirica Krasnova 1987 (extant) is replaced by a new name, T. krasnovae nom. nov., on account of the earlier homonym, T. sibirica P.I. Dorofeev 1982 (fossil). T. transdnestrovica nom. nov. is proposed to replace the later homonym T. elliptica Negru 1976 (fossil) non T. elliptica Gmelin 1808 (extant). Fossil seeds from the Lower Oligocene (Rupelian) of Bembridge (Isle of Wight, U.K.), previously attributed to the fossil-species T. latissima, based on leaves, are described as a new fossil-species, T. latissimisperma sp. nov. Typha latissima is neotypified; Typha angustior is lectotypified for the first time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An anatomically preserved fossil fruit Allericarpus parvivalvis (Bayer) J. Kvaček et Heřmanová comb. nov. is described from the Coniacian of Březno (Březno Formation), from the Bohemian Cretaceous Basin. Its morphology is characterised based on x-ray and SEM studies. It shows a pentamerous fruit consisting of loculicidally dehiscent capsules. The fruit is subtended by thin persistent sepals. The taxon is compared to other similar taxa, particularly to two earlier described fossil species of Allericarpus. All its characters indicate relationship with the family Pentaphylacaceae of the order Ericales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Banksieaephyllum, originally erected for cuticle-bearing fossil leaves of subtribe Banksiinae (Proteaceae subfamily Grevilleoideae, tribe Banksieae), is reassessed. Of the 18 described species, nine are accepted within Banksia, including Banksieaephyllum obovatum Cookson&Duigan, which is synonymised with B. laeve Cookson& Duigan on the basis of new cuticular preparations. Two other species are transferred to Banksieaefolia gen. nov., a genus erected for Banksieae of uncertain affinities, and which presently includes only fossils that probably belong to subtribe Musgraveinae. The seven other Banksieaephyllum species lack definitive characters of Proteaceae (i.e. brachyparacytic stomata and annular trichome bases) and do not have Banksieae-type cylindrical trichome bases. These species are, therefore, not accepted as Proteaceae and are transferred to Pseudobanksia gen. nov., together with another fossil Banksia-like leaf species, Phyllites yallournensis Cookson & Duigan. Lectotypes are chosen for Banksia fastigata H.Deane, Banksieaephyllum acuminatum Cookson & Duigan, Banksieaephyllum angustum Cookson & Duigan and Banksieaephyllum laeve Cookson & Duigan. Implications arising from the re-assessment of Banksieaephyllum include clarification of biome conservatism in Banksieae; Banksia has long had an association with relatively open, sclerophyllous vegetation, and Musgraveinae with rainforest. Pseudobanksia and Banksia share convergent traits, but in contrast to Banksia, Pseudobanksia failed to survive the drying climates and increased fire-frequencies of the Neogene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Premise of research. Osmunda regalis has a worldwide distribution, except for in eastern Asia, where Osmunda japonica and Osmunda lancea can be found instead. However, the present geographic separation does not necessarily mean geographical speciation. Molecular data indicated that American O. regalis is sister to O. japonica and O. lancea rather than to European O. regalis, but the relationship between the distribution and phylogeny remained unclear. An analysis of vegetative pinnule fossils, which were abundant in the Cenozoic time, would help elucidate the historical biogeography and evolution of these species if the taxonomy of the fossils would be clarified. Methodology. We measured interveinlet intervals in mature and juvenile plants of the extant species and fossils from Japan and the rest of the world, as well as the size of their pinnules, and compared them through geological time and during ontogeny. Pivotal results. The interveinlet interval differs between O. regalis and O. japonica, and part of the Cenozoic fossils, mostly from Japan, could be classified as belonging to these two species. The venation of the O. japonica mature plants was more similar to that of juvenile plants of the same species than was the case with O. regalis, possibly due to a paedomorphic interval in O. japonica. Conclusions. Osmunda regalis or its ancestor had been present in eastern Asia since the Middle Eocene, while O. japonica was derived in the Miocene, possibly from O. regalis. The past sympatry of the two species may have been facilitated by ecological isolation before geographical separation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although automated approaches to shape analysis and object classification have been widely applied in the biological sciences, technical and time considerations have limited their use in phytolith research. As advanced microscopy systems become more affordable and accessible and digital imaging software provides a wider range of sophisticated analytical tools, there is increased potential for effective use of machine-vision and automation in phytolith research. In this paper, we describe technical limitations of phytolith imaging and identify several techniques that might improve results. Drawing on examples of software developed for related disciplines, we then describe a conceptual framework for development and integration of automated phytolith analysis software for: separating phytoliths from non-phytolith material in digital images; segmentation of phytolith boundaries; quantitative phytolith feature extraction, including a discussion of potentially more powerful, non-traditional parameters of phytolith shape and texture; phytolith classification and identification; and phytolith database image retrieval. While recognizing the difficulty of implementing this framework and the need for extensive empirical testing of suggested approaches on phytoliths, we examine the possibility of aggregating quantitative phytolith data collected in studies worldwide to construct a cloud-based database of phytolith images with associated morphotype data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Phytoliths in the Flora of Ecuador project was undertaken to establish diagnostic phytolith types and phytolith vegetation signatures to enhance archaeological and paleoenvironmental phytolith applications in the region. In this paper I discuss the “products” of this research, and provide links to on-line resources. Among the lessons learned from this project: the importance of systematic phytolith naming and classification, documentation, and having a strong regional research focus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The following 15 generic names are recommended for conservation: Angaropteridium against Neurogangamopteris, Beania against Sphaereda, Bucklandia Brongn. against Bucklandia Sternb. and Conites, Coniopteris against Polystichites, Equisetites against Oncylogonatum with a conserved type, Juglandicarya against Hyhothya with a conserved type, Lepidophloios against Yuccites, Lepidopteris against Aspidioides, Marattiopsis with a conserved type, Nilssonia with that spelling, Pityostrobus against Zamiostrobus, Scytophyllum Bornem. against Scytophyllum Eckl. & Zeyh., Sphenozamites with a conserved type, Verrucosisporites with that spelling, and Vertebraria Royle ex McCoy against Vertebraria Roussel. The following 3 species names are recommended for conservation. Beania gracilis against Sphaeredaparadoxa, Equisetum columnare (Equisetites colunmare) against Oncylogonatum carbonarium with a conserved type, and Scytophyllum bergeri with a conserved type. The following 4 generic names are not recommended for conservation: Carpolithus with that spelling, Crowella against Actinostrobites and Frenelites, Cyclodendron against Subsigillaria and Eusigillaria, and Pecopteris against Filicites, as also are the following 22 names, all originally hyphenated, and proposed for conservation with these spellings: Abiespollenites, Alatisporites, Apiculatasporites, Cicatricosisporites, Densosporites, Elongatosporites, Faguspollenites, Gnetaceaepollenites, Granulatisporites, Juglanspollenites, Palaeoavena, Piceaepollenites, Poacordailes, Pseudoaiaucaria, Quercipollenites, Sabalpollenites, Sequoiapollenites, Setosisporites, Sparganiaceaepollenites, Tuberculatisporites, Ulmipollenites, Valvisporites. The following 2 species names are not recommended for conservation: Dalbergia reticulata Merr. against D. reticulata Ettingsh. and Sphenophyllum indicum (Vertebraria indica) against Vertebraria australis and Clasteria australis. The following family name is not recommended for conservation: Cheirolepidaceae. Change of authorship of Catamites, nom. cons, from Brongniart in 1828 to Sternberg in 1820 and the concomitant deletion of "Calamitis Sternb.", nom. rej. was recommended. The following 3 names are recommended for outright rejection: Filicites, Frenelites, and Solenostrobus. The committee judged the names Cheirolepidiaceae and Cheirolepidaceae to be not confusable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Cretaceous sections and plant macrofossils are investigated in detail near Vladivostok on the Muravyov-Amurskii Peninsula of southern Primorye. It is established that the Ussuri and Lipovtsy formations in the reference section of the Markovskii Peninsula rest with unconformity upon Upper Triassic strata. The continuous Cretaceous succession is revealed in the Peschanka River area of the northern Muravyov-Amurskii Peninsula, where plant remains were first sampled from the lower and upper parts of the Korkino Group, which are determined to be the late Albian-late Cenmanian in age. The taxonomic composition of floral assemblages from the Ussuri, Lipovtsy, and Galenki formations is widened owing to additional finds of plant remains. The Korkino Group received floral characteristics for the first time. The Cretaceous flora of the peninsula is represented by 126 taxa. It is established that ferns and conifers are dominant elements of the Ussuri floral assemblage, while the Lipovtsy Assemblage is dominated by ferns, conifers, and cycadphytes. In addition, the latter assemblage is characterized by the highest taxonomic diversity. The Galenki Assemblage is marked by the first appearance of rare flowering plants against the background of dominant ferns and conifers. The Korkino floral assemblage is subdivided into two subassemblages dominated by different groups: conifers in the early and flowering plants in the late. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The complex paleobotanical investigations carried out in the Maoming sedimentary basin (Guangdong Province, South China) yielded first data on the taxonomic composition and ecological properties of two large paleofloras from the Youganwo and Huangniuling formations. The palynomorph assemblages from these formations indicate their middle-late Eocene age (Lutetian-Bartonian and Priabonian for the former and latter, respectively). It is shown that sediments of the Youganwo Formation were deposited in an intermittently swamped lacustrine-fluvial plain, which gave way to a freshwater lake. Vegetation of this period was represented by wet subtropical forests with evergreen Fagaceae, Lauraceae, and Palmae. The Huangniuling flora reflects the biome of seasonal tropical forests developed in a broad fluvial plain and its margins. The Eocene floras of the Maoming Basin are marked by the appearance of several recent plant genera, which is also evident from finds of remains of their reproductive structures. The Eocene flora from low latitudes of South China exhibits a notable share of floral elements from middle and high latitudes of East Asia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several fern remains are described from the para-autochthonous early late Ladinian flora of the Monte Agnello (Dolo-mites, N-Italy). The plants are preserved in subaerially deposited pyroclastic layers. Some ferns, known already from the Anisian and Ladinian of this area, are confirmed (Neuropteridium elegans), but several taxa are described for the first time (Phlebopteris fiemmensis sp. nov., Cladophlebis ladinica sp. nov., Chiropteris monteagnellii sp. nov.). Cladophle-bis sp. and some indeterminable fern remains cannot yet be assigned to any family. Phlebopteris fiemmensis is now the oldest formally established species in the genus. The fern family Dipteridaceae (Thaumatopteris sp. and some fragments probably belonging to the Dipteridaceae because of their venation) has not been recorded previously from European sediments as old as the Ladinian. Although stratigraphically attributed to the late Ladinian, the flora is markedly distinct from other Ladinian floras of the Dolomites and the Germanic Basin. The flora from Monte Agnello shows a higher di-versity in ferns than coeval floras from this area although characteristic elements of the Ladinian of the Dolomites such as Anomopteris and Gordonopteris are missing. The new flora misses also the Marattiales (e.g., Danaeopsis, Asterotheca) and other elements such as Sphenopteris schoenleiniana, typical for the Ladinian of the Germanic Basin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A detailed survey is presented of the early Miocene flora of the abandoned Kristina Mine at Hrádek nad Nisou in the Hrádek part of the Zittau Basin, North Bohemia. It is based on leaf morphological and anatomical study of macrofossils recovered since 1963 with additional information on carpological records. The flora belongs to the Younger Mastixioid Floras sensu Mai (1964) and is correlated with the early Miocene floristic assemblage (“Florenkomplex”) of Eichelskopf–Wiesa (Mai 1995), i.e., the floristic zone VI in Saxony sensu Mai (1967). It includes in the foliage record representatives of ferns (Thelypteridaceae, Polypodiales fam. inc.), conifers (Pinaceae, Cupressaceae, Geinitziaceae) and angiosperms (prevailingly Lauraceae, Fagaceae, rarely Hamamelidaceae, Myricaceae, Juglandaceae, Leguminosae (including Leguminosites hradekensis (E. KNOBLOCH et KVAČEK) KVAČEK et TEODORIDIS comb. n.), Oleaceae and uncertain families). The carpological record adds, in addition to the above families, representatives of Magnoliaceae, Nymphaeaceae, Schisandraceae (incl. Illiciaceae), Menispermaceae, Cornaceae, Lythraceae (incl. Microdiptera donata (HOLÝ) KVAČEK et TEODORIDIS comb. n.), Halorhagaceae, Altingiaceae, Ulmaceae, Rosaceae, Ericaceae, Symplocaceae, Styracaceae, Rutaceae, Aquifoliaceae, Staphyleaceae, Vitaceae, Sabiaceae, Caprifoliaceae, Potamogetonaceae, Arecaceae, Cyperaceae, Stemonaceae and Sparganiaceae. An informal term “plexus” is attached to names of fossil species whose parts have not yet been found in organic connection. Vegetation is classified as broad–leaved evergreen forest type according to the new statistical method developed for zonal forest formations (IPR vegetation analysis). Palaeoenvironmental and climatic proxy data based on angiosperm leaf record using a combination of the physiognomic (CLAMP, LMA) and Nearest Living Relatives (CA) techniques are, according to CLAMP estimates – MAT 14.2 ˚C, WMMT 24.0 ˚C, CMMT 6.2 ˚C, 3–WET 131.7 cm, 3–DRY 20.0 cm, GROWSEAS 10.3 month, GSP 203.1 cm, MMGSP 9.9 cm, RH 54.5 %, SH 5.5 g/kg, and ENTHAL 29.9 kJ/kg; LMA estimates – MAT1 is 21.1 ˚C (sensu Wolfe 1979) and MAT2 is 18.7 ˚C (sensu Su et al. 2010), and value of the sampling error sensu Miller et al. (2006) is 3.1 ˚C; CA proxy data intervals: MAT 17–18˚C, WMT 26.5–26.9 ˚C, CMT 9.6–12.6 ˚C, and MAP 1146–1146 mm. The obtained climate proxy datasets correspond more or less with those of stratigraphically analogous sites from Wackersdorf, Wiesa and Berzdorf in Germany as well as the summarised proxy datasets of the Mydlovary Fm. in South Bohemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We describe moderately diverse but extremely widespread calcified plant assemblages from the Pennsylvanian (mid/late Bolsovian–Asturian) Pennant Sandstone Formation (Warwickshire Group) of southern Britain, based on museum collections and new field discoveries. Fossils are documented from 21 sites where they comprise allochthonous accumulations within channel-lag conglomerate and coarse-grained sandstone facies of large, braided river channels draining the Variscan Orogen. Assemblages are dominated by cordaitaleans (87% of total, Amyelon, Mesoxylon, Dadoxylon), with a few tree-ferns (7%, Psaronius), and rare pteridosperms (1%, Myeloxylon), sphenopsids (2.5%, Arthropitys) and lycopsids (2.5%, ‘Lepidodendron’). These fossils clearly derived from a different plant community to those found in the coal seams (mixed fern/lycopsid-dominated based on palynofloras) and roof shales (pteridosperm-dominated based on megafloral adpressions), which occur between the fluvial sandstone deposits. Two competing hypotheses to explain these compositional differences are that (1) permineralised plants grew in extra-basinal settings adjacent to areas of Coal Forest or (2) permineralised plants grew on lowland interfluves during times of drier climate when Coal Forests had temporarily retreated. Data are currently insufficient to test between these hypotheses although the calcified preservational mode suggests burial under seasonally dry conditions. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The classification of Mississippian compression remains is often problematic due to poor definitions of genera and unclear delimitation of individual species. The name of the Mississippian genus Cardiopteris Schimper 1869 is a homonym of Cardiopteris Wallich ex Royle 1834 and was replaced by the name Fryopsis Wolfe 1962. However, the new name was only introduced for Fryopsis polymorpha, which was designated as type species. The other species assigned to Cardiopteris Schimper never have been transferred formally to Fryopsis. A conspecifity of Fryopsis polymorpha, Cardiopteris frondosa and Cardiopteris hochstetteri has often been discussed but never been proven. In this contribution the distinctive characters described in the literature for the three “species” – primarily size, position, and form of the pinnules – are reviewed critically. Morphometric analyses of previously described specimens and a substantial number of unpublished ones show that there are no distinct differences in leaf size. Moreover, alternate pinnules are not restricted to Cardiopteris hochstetteri as was previously thought, and individual “species” are not characterized by a typical leaf shape. Thus, a distinction into different species cannot be maintained. Cardiopteris frondosa and Cardiopteris hochstetteri are conspecific with Fryopsis polymorpha. Most of the other species described in Cardiopteris belong to other genera, have been recognized as synonyms of other taxa, or have to be regarded as species dubiae. Cardiopteris altaicus Radčenko 1985 is formally transferred to Fryopsis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A new Triassic seed fern is described on the basis of a large collection of well-preserved plant compressions from the Upper Triassic of Mt. Falla, Queen Alexandra Range, central Transantarctic Mountains. The foliage is simple entire-margined to pinnatifid to partly pinnate and is assigned to Dejerseya lobata (Jones et de Jersey) Herbst emend. nov. Associated with these leaves occur two new reproductive structures. The ovulate organ Matatiella dejerseyi sp. nov. is a lax, conelike structure with primarily shield-shaped megasporophylls that are dissected into three to four narrow lobes, each bearing a single recurved, naked ovule. The pollen organ Townrovia polaris sp. nov. consists of a slender axis arising from a covered reproductive bud, bearing pinnately arranged, stalked, elongate receptacles each with ~20 unilocular , clavate pollen sacs; the pollen is bisaccate nontaeniate with an irregular longitudinal sulcus and coarse saccus endoreticulations, corresponding to the dispersed pollen Falcisporites australis. Similar pollen grains occur in the micropylar canals of seed cuticles of M. dejerseyi. Co-occurrence data indicate that the three taxa are probably different organs from one plant species. This new seed fern is assigned to the Matatiellaceae, which we place into the Peltaspermales because of structural similarities with vegetative and reproductive organs of other peltaspermalean seed ferns. It appears that several Triassic Gondwanan plant fossil taxa of currently uncertain affinities-such as Pachydermo- phyllum, Linguifolium, Carpolithus mackayi, and Andersonia-may belong to the Matatiellaceae as well. We suggest that the matatiellacean peltasperms were opportunistic, early successional plants that were particularly successful in colonizing stressed wetland environments in polar latitudes during the Triassic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Late Cretaceous megafossil floras from the palaeo-Arctic of northeastern Russia and northern Alaska are reviewed in respect of their age, composition, structure and floral dynamics. Palaeofloral correlations and comparisons are made between the two regions. Nine angiosperm-rich, predominantly Cenomanian to Coniacian, floras from the palaeo-Arctic are re-evaluated using Climate Leaf Analysis Multivariate Program (CLAMP) calibrated using a global gridded (0.5°×0.5°) climate data set derived from that used in climate modelling. Additional floras from lower palaeolatitudes were used to derive latitudinal temperature gradients: seven from N. America, five from around 30°N palaeolatitude in Europe and one from Kazakhstan. The Arctic climatic determinations, similar to previous estimates, support the existence of a northern Pacific Ocean cold gyre and a warm Arctic Ocean. At palaeolatitudes greater than 80°N floras are insufficiently diverse in woody dicot taxa to use CLAMP, but using CLAMP-derived latitudinal temperature gradients Arctic Ocean coastal environments at 70Ma and 82°N, and which supported a diverse dinosaur magafauna, are predicted to have experienced a mean annual temperature of 6.3±2.2°C, a warm month mean of 14.5±3.1°C and a cold month mean no colder than −2.0±3.9°C. All uncertainties are 2σ. The new estimates are in good agreement with a wide range of non-palaeobotanical climate proxies and render as an outlier warmer temperature estimates for the Arctic Ocean derived from the TEX86 proxy. Modelling, however, shows that land to ocean temperature gradients could have been steep. The CLAMP estimates also suggest high values for humidity and precipitation consistent with sedimentological indicators and, coupled with warm temperatures, support the existence of a persistent polar cloud cap that helped maintain high terrestrial air temperatures throughout prolonged periods (up to 5months) of winter darkness. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Two mid-Cretaceous floras collected in terrigenous and volcaniclastic deposits of the Novosibirsk Islands in the Russian high Arctic were studied. These floras are the most poleward mid-Cretaceous floras known and existed at palaeolatitudes up to 82–85° N. These represent our best insight into polar conditions at one of the warmest intervals in Earth history. An Albian flora from the Balyktakh Formation of the Kotel''nyi Island comprises 40 species of ferns, bennettites, cycadophytes, ginkgoaleans, czekanowskialeans, conifers and gymnosperms incertae sedis. This flora is most similar to the Albian Buor-kemuss Flora widespread in the Arctic Siberia and Alaska and, to a lesser extent, to the Aptian Silyap Flora of Siberia. A Turonian flora from the Derevyannye Gory Formation on the Novaya Sibir'' Island includes approximately 50 taxa of ferns, ginkgoaleans, conifers and angiosperms. This flora exhibits plants common for the early Cretaceous as well as taxa typical for Cenomanian–Senonian, which implies that the age of the plant-bearing deposits is likely to be Turonian. The Cretaceous climate has often been described as ‘warm’ with a higher degree of equability than today with the near-polar regions in particular being much warmer than today. Our estimates using CLAMP and a new global gridded climate calibration demonstrate that for the Turonian Novaya Sibir'' Flora plant physiognomy reflects a humid climate with warm summers and mild frost-free winters: the mean annual temperature is estimated to have been +9.2±2.2°C, the warm month mean temperature +17.2±2.8°C, the cold month mean temperature +1.1±3.8°C and the mean growing season precipitation 537±392mm. These temperature parameters indicate that within 900km of the Turonian North Pole the climate was similar to that of modern temperate, or even warm-temperate, zones but must have differed considerably in having pronounced high-latitude sunlight seasonality. The ecology of the late Cretaceous Arctic plants reflects their adaptation to this climate. Synchronous shedding of foliage (deciduousness) was by far the most common strategy and retention of leaves year round (evergreenness) was also viable for a small number of taxa. Large deciduous leaves typical for the Cretaceous Arctic dicots probably reflect the combination of a warm and humid climate with high-latitude light regime: long days in summer and predominance of relatively weak and mostly diffuse sunlight. The large range of leaf size in a given plant species of Arctic angiosperms was most probably linked to the seasonal character of annual shoot development. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Fin-winged fruits have two or more wings aligned with the longitudinal axis like the feathers of an arrow, as exemplified by Combretum, Halesia, and Ptelea. Such fruits vary in dispersal mode from those in which the fruit itself is the ultimate disseminule, to schizocarps dispersing two or more mericarps, to capsules releasing multiple seeds. At least 45 families and more than 140 genera are known to possess fin-winged fruits. We present an inventory of these taxa and describe their morphological characters as an aid for the identification and phylogenetic assessment of fossil and extant genera. Such fruits are most prevalent among Eudicots, but occur occasionally in Magnoliids (Hernandiaceae: Illigera) and Monocots ( Burmannia, Dioscorea, Herreria). Although convergent in general form, fin-winged fruits of different genera can be distinguished by details of the wing number, texture, shape and venation, along with characters of persistent floral parts and dehiscence mode. Families having genera with fin-winged fruits and epigynous perianth include Aizoaceae, Apiaceae, Araliaceae, Asteraceae, Begoniaceae, Burmanniaceae, Combretaceae, Cucurbitaceae, Dioscoreaceae, Haloragaceae, Lecythidiaceae, Lophopyxidaceae, Loranthaceae, and Styracaceae. Families with genera having fin-winged fruits and hypogynous perianth include Achariaceae, Brassicaceae, Burseraceae, Celastraceae, Cunoniaceae, Cyrillaceae, Fabaceae, Malvaceae, Melianthaceae, Nyctaginaceae, Pedaliaceae, Polygalaceae, Phyllanthaceae, Polygonaceae, Rhamnaceae, Salicaceae sl, Sapindaceae, Simaroubaceae, Trigoniaceae, and Zygophyllaceae. This survey has facilitated the identification of fossil winged fruits such as Combretaceae and Araliaceae in the late Cretaceous of western North America and provides additional evidence toward the identification of various Cenozoic fossils including Brassicaceae, Fabaceae, Polygonaceae, Rutaceae, and Sapindaceae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Asteridae is a group of some 80,000 species of flowering plants characterized by their fused corollas and iridoid compounds. Recent phylogenetic analyses have helped delimit the group and have identified four main clades within it; Cornales, Ericales, Lamiids and Campanulids, with the last two collectively known as the Euasteridae. A search for the oldest fossils representing asterids yielded a total of 261 records. Each of these fossils was evaluated as to the reliability of its identification. The oldest accepted fossils for each clade were used to estimate minimum ages for the whole of the Asteridae. The results suggest that the Asteridae dates back to at least the Turonian, Late Cretaceous (89.3 mya) and that by the Late Santonian-Early Campanian (83.5 mya) its four main clades were already represented in the fossil record. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this revision the Late Westphalian C and Westphalian D palaeobotanic subdivisions of Wagner (1966, 1979) Cleal (1997) and others were recognized and applied. Two diachronous discontinuities are demonstrated: an important one at the Westphalian C / D transition (the Symon unconformity) and one below the base of the Neeroeteren formation (the Neeroeteren unconformity). The Neeroeteren formation has a 'middle' to 'late' Late Westphalian D age. Within the earliest and latest realms of the Late Westphalian D other discontinuities are suspected as well; at the end of the 'early' Late Westphalian D and on top of the Neeroeteren formation. They were caused by intermitted pro-and retrograding and gradual northwardly shifting of (terminal) parts of alluvial fans. In the western and northwestern realms these fan deposits intermittently interfinger with limnic and floodplain sediments. Next to some initial Late Westphalian C sourcing from the north / northeast, local sediment supply during the Westphalian D predominantly came from eastern / southeastern areas. These fan sediments and accompanying discontinuities reflect the effects of the Late Malvernian (Late Westphalian C) and Leonese (Mid / Late Westphalian D) Variscan orogenic pulses. The palaeobotanic datings permitted correlations and comparisons with contemporaneous developments in the northeastern Netherlands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A widely accessible working list of known plant species is considered the number one target of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation. An index of published names of liverworts and hornworts between 2006 and 2008 is provided as part of a continued effort in working toward producing a preliminary world checklist of these plants. Included in the list are those names overlooked by earlier indices. The list includes over 20 higher taxa, 246 species or infraspecific valid names, and three fossils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A single sample from the Springhill Group of well 2 at La Posesión in the Manantiales oilfield, southern Chile at 1752 m yielded a rich spore-pollen assemblage. The sample is from the base of approximately 32 m of medium- to coarse-grained sandstone with streaks of brown-gray clay and occasional carbonaceous streaks. Forty-nine species of pollen and spores in 36 genera are documented. On the basis of the occurrences of Aequitriradites plicatus, Appendicisporites jansonii, Contignisporites multimuratus, Cyclusphaera sp. A, Muricingulisporis annulatus, and Ornamentifera echinata, the age of the sample is considered to be Early Cretaceous (Hauterivian). The absence of marine palynomorphs indicates that the horizon sampled was deposited in a non-marine setting, close to araucarian and fern vegetation. The spore genus Sphagnites Cookson 1953 is emended, and the species Sphagnum antiquasporites Wilson & Webster 1946 is transferred to Sphagnites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The acritarch Ninadiacrodium gen. nov. is erected to include forms with a basically triangular outline,but with a clearly bipolar arrangement of processes. It belongs to the 'diacrodian' dade; these are morphotypes with ornament and/or processes at the two opposite poles of the central body. They were extremely abundant and highly diverse during the Late Cambrian and Early Ordovician. The new genus includes the two widely-cited species Ninadiacrodium caudatum (Vanguestaine 1973) comb. nov. and Ninadiacrodium dumontii (Vanguestaine 1973) comb. nov. Both taxa are emended here. Ninadiacrodium is easily recognizable due to its elongate triangular shape, but is clearly differentiated from Veryhachium Deunff 1954, which appears in the Ordovician. Ninadiacrodium is apparently confined to the Late Cambrian, and has a global distribution. It is therefore an index fossil for the Late Cambrian. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An Early Devonian (Pragian) plant, Hueberia zhichangensis gen. et sp. nov., is described from the Posongchong Formation, Wenshan district of southern Yunnan, China. It is characterized by stems < 2 mm wide and closely helically-arranged enations. A creeping habit is suggested due to K-type branching. No fertile organs are preserved. Hueberia gen. nov. resembles Drepanophycus and Kaulangiophyton, but is much smaller and has a more regular phyllotaxy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A historic collection of plant fossils from the Bagå Formation, Bornholm, Denmark registered at the Lund University is reviewed and found to be dominated by ferns with subsidiary Ginkgoales, Coniferales, Bennettitales and Equisitales. Ten genera are represented, of which six can be confidently identified to species level. The Bagå Formation flora is most similar in age to the flora of the Middle Jurassic Mariedals Formation of Eriksdal, Skåne, although there are important compositional differences between these assemblages. The Bagå flora is characteristic of the temperate (warm and humid) biome of the Early-mid Jurassic. A historical investigation reveals that at least four scientists contributed material to the collections. A palynological investigation made on samples from the leaf fossils reveals that the macroflora was most probably collected from the Sorthat beds as the palynoflora corresponds to the Pliensbachian Chasmatosporites Zone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Taxonomic differences in the needle epidermis characteristics of Pinus sylvestris L. and Pinus uncinata Ramond ex DC. from two Iberian populations were sought; such information could help identify these species when pollen analysis and the inspection of wood anatomy fails. The features of the cuticle are commonly well preserved in the fossil record. Although the epidermal patterns of the examined taxa were similar, qualitative differences were seen in the subsidiary and guard cells. P. sylvestris showed small subsidiary cells homogenously arranged around the opening of the epistomatal chamber, while P. uncinata showed small, lateral subsidiary cells and non-differentiated subsidiary cells in the polar position. The aperture of the epistomatic chamber of P. uncinata was also larger in diameter (15.1±1.8  µm P. sylvestris; 21.1±2.8  µm P. uncinata). Principal components analysis and discriminant analysis was performed on the features of the guard cells characterising the size and shape of the cuticular thickenings — all the variables analysed can be measured in disperse stomata in microscope preparations for pollen analysis. Significant differences were found in the upper woody lamellae width and the coefficient associated with the shape of the medial lamellae borders (discriminant analysis weighting 0.739 and 0.826 respectively). Other significant parameters included the coefficient associated with the relative size of the medial lamellae border width of the guard cells with respect to the distance between the external limits of the medial lamellae borders, and the length of the upper woody lamella. Different light regimens appeared not to significantly affect the variability of the studied features. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Proteaceae are restricted to the Southern Hemisphere, and of the seven tribes of the subfamily Grevilleoideae, only three (Macadamieae, Oriteae, and Embothrieae) have living members in Argentina. Megafossil genera of Proteaceae recorded from Patagonia include Lomatia, Embothrium, Orites, and Roupala. In this report, we evaluate and revise fossil Argentine Proteaceae on the basis of type material and new specimens. The new collections come from the Tufolitas Laguna del Hunco (early Eocene, Chubut Province), the Ventana (middle Eocene, Río Negro Province), and the Río Ñirihuau (late Oligocene-early Miocene, Río Negro Province) formations, Patagonia, Argentina. We confirm the presence of Lomatia preferruginea Berry, L. occidentalis (Berry) Frenguelli, L. paragonica Frenguelli, Roupala patagonica Durango de Cabrera et Romero, and Orites bivascularis Romero, Dibbern et Gandolfo. Fossils assigned to Embothrium precoccineum Berry and E. pregrandiflorum Berry are doubtful, and new material is necessary to confirm the presence of this genus in the fossil record of Patagonia. A putative new fossil species of Proteaceae is presented as Proteaceae gen. et sp. indet. Fossil Proteaceae are compared with modern genera, and an identification key for the fossil leaf species is presented. Doubtful historical records of Proteaceae fossils for the Antarctic Peninsula region and Patagonia are also discussed. Based on this revision, the three tribes of Proteaceae found today in Argentina were already present in Patagonia by the early Eocene, where they probably arrived via the Australia-Antarctica-South America connection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relationship between vegetation and surface pollen deposition is examined at Storbreen glacier foreland where a clear plant succession exists. The aim is to determine whether the distinct plant communities present produce characteristic pollen assemblages. The influence of environmental factors is also considered. Pollen assemblages from moss polsters, collected from 22 paired sampling sites across the foreland, are compared with local vegetation. Two-way indicator species analysis and detrended correspondence analysis are employed to identify clusters and sequences, initially in the vegetation data and subsequently in the pollen data sets. Vegetation and pollen data are compared simultaneously using canonical correspondence analysis. Three main plant communities are distinguished: pioneer, heath and snowbed. Broadly, each community produces characteristic pollen assemblages. Boundaries between groups are not clear-cut, reflecting the mosaic of plant communities present. Recognition of distinct plant communities is hampered by the prevalence of long-distance arboreal pollen and poor representation of entomophillously pollinated taxa. Late in the succession up to 78% of pollen could originate locally. Use of the non-arboreal pollen sum significantly improves correspondence with vegetation. The importance of indicator taxa is considered and both Salix and Empetrum are found to distinguish successfully early phases of succession from later phases. Strong correlations exist between the primary ordination axes of vegetation and pollen and with terrain age and altitude (for example, the correlation between altitude and total land pollen Axis 1 is r = -0.76). The surface data add new information to the interpretation of tree colonization in the area during the Holocene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Describes a new genus and species, Celatheca beckii, from the Early Devonian Posongchong Formation, Wenshan district of southern Yunnan, China. Derivation of generic name; General description; Vegetative morphology; Fertile specimens; Fertile structures.

The article offers information on plant remains excavated by the Basingstoke Archaeological Society between 1974 and 1976 at an Iron Age and Romano-British enclosed farmstead at Viables Farm on the southern edge of Basingstoke, England in an area which is now being developed for industrial use. Only thirty-five percent of the Iron Age deposits examined for plant remains from this site produced botanical evidence and that the deposits contained very large concentrations of carbonized grain and chaff fragments. Layer 6 which was contemporary with the burials contained a noticeable reduced quantity of plant remains and also contained a higher quantity of wheat caryopses that could not be identified to species.

The article discusses a proposal to amend the provisions in the "Code" for naming fossil plants. It says that Cleal & Thomas criticised the introduction of the word morphotaxa into the "St. Louis Code" and of "fossil taxa" into the "Vienna Code." The authors say that his and colleagues' palaeobotanical taxonomy review demonstrated that the disarticulation of formerly intact fossil plants into plant fossils requires particular provision in the "Code" for fossil plants.

The article discusses the 1935 proposal to conserve the name Eusphenopteris Gothan ex Simson-Scharold instead of Eusphenopteris Kidst. It states that the Committee for Fossil Plants rejected the proposal, however, paleobotanists dealing with Carboniferous macrofloras continue to use the name. It suggests the re-introduction of the proposal to conserve the name Eusphenopteris Simson-Scharold to address the problem concerning Eusphenopteris.

Tricorniger Doweld (Lythrales), a new replacement name for fossil Schenkiella Wójcicki & Kvaček 2002 (non Schenckiella Hennings 1893) is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a proposal to maintain the nomenclature Polypodiisporites with that spelling instead of the plant fossil Polypodii-sporonites. Topics include the error in using the generic name Polypodii-sporonites in palaeopalynological literature, the use of Polypodiisporites in scientific citations, and the initiative to use the generic name Polypodiisporonites for the plant species.

The article focuses on a proposal to conserve the name Bucklandia Brong at the place of Bucklandia Stern and Conites of the family of fossils Gymnospermae, Cycadeoideopsida. Bucklandia is generally referred as Bennettitales, although the organic connection with reproductive organs which can provides the type of the generic name is still being researched and

The article discusses the discovery of ancient plant fossils preserved under ash in China's Wuda basin by paleobotanist Wang Jun of the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Nanjing Institute of Geology and Paleontology. Topics include an analysis of the fossils which revealed them to be a group of extinct fern-like plants, geological conditions in the Wuda basin during the Early Permian period, and Jun's efforts to protect Wuda fossils from the coal mining industry. Also discussed is how the Wuda fossils will enable researchers to reconstruct North China's climate in the Permian period.

The article focuses on the proposal of the conservation of the spelling of the name Carpolithus for the fossil Spermatopsida. It discusses the history usage of Carpolithus, Carpolithes, and Carpolites of different author in palaeobotanical literature and how they were treated to describe plant fossils. It states that Carpolithus, Carpolithes, and Carpolites have been regarded as variants by palaeobotanists. The proponents suggest keeping Carpolithus for consistency and stability of nomenclature.

The article presents a proposal to rectify the article 42.4 of the Code for naming fossil plants. It notes that it detected problems concerning the naming of plant species, and that the problems involve validating names of taxa at generic, specific, and infraspecific rank, partly because of the historical changes in the Code. It notes that according to provisions of these articles in the Leningrad Code, a published illustration can be used to validate a name of a vascular plant before 1908.

In this article the author discusses aspects of ancient ambers which are fossil plant resins that have distinctive molecular structures. The author notes that plant resins are complex and diverse blends of compounds and that they are best analyzed using pyrolysis coupled with gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). He discusses the categories that resin fall into, such as terpenoid or isoprenes, and the various methods scientist can use to assign them into the correct classes.

The article focuses on the proposal to xo9nserve the fossil plant genus Juglandicarya against the fossil plant Hybothya with the conserved fossil plant genus Juglandaceae. It states that E. Reid and M. Chandler have created the fossil genus Juglandicarya and mentions that the genus Juglandicarya describes the Hybothya crassa which violates the nomenclature of Juglandicarya species.

The article presents proposals for the governance of Code in naming plant species. It notes that the Code is silent on certain aspects of governance and does not say how many percentage of votes are needed to approve or reject proposals or committee actions. These were unwritten rules that cause disagreement on what the rule was or should have been. In the proposal, changes in the Code will require 60% or higher agreeing votes of the Nomenclature Section of the International Botanical Congress.

The article reports on the proposal to conserve the name Sphenozamites or the fossil Cycadophyta. It cites that Brongniart has created Otozamites sect. Sphenozamites for cycadophyte leaves, and stated that this taxon might ever be raised to generic rank. Palaeobotanists treated S. beanie as Otozamites species. It notes that the concept of Wesley on Sphenozamites is almost universally accepted nowadays. Moreover, Gea Zijlstra and colleagues validate a species combination in Apoldia.