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A new angiosperm is reported based on a leaf specimen from the Early Cretaceous Chijinpu Formation in Beishan area, Northwest China. The associated plants include abundant gymnosperms and ferns. The new angiosperm leaf, discovered for the first time in this region, has a cordate base and peltate excentric lamina attachment. Cluster analysis and morphological comparisons with other angiosperm leaves show that this specimen is more similar to peltate fossil leaves. However, the exact taxonomic position of this fossil leaf is uncertain due to limited characters, so that we established a new genus and species, Gansupeltata beishanensis gen. et sp. nov. The new finding adds to the diversity of early angiosperms, and further demonstrates that angiosperms have already evolved during the Early Cretaceous in the Beishan area, Northwest China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fossil remains of Dryopterites fern foliage were collected from the Lower Cretaceous Chijinbao Formation in the Zhongkouzi Basin, Beishan area, Northwest China. A new species, Dryopterites beishanensis Ren and Sun sp. nov., is described on the basis of gross morphological structure and details of reproductive characters. Fronds are tripinnate, the main rachis is broad, and pinnules are small, oval or long ovate, and attached at narrow angles to the rachis, with apices obtuse. Sporangia are rounded or rounded-reniform and borne on the lateral vein, with one to two pairs in number. Spores are suborbicular or oval and monolete, with laesura 28 to 41 µm long. The extine is not smooth. The new fossils represent the first record of Dryopterites from the Chijinbao Formation. Additionally, according to different fossil records, the genus Dryopterites most likely originated in East Asia in the Early Cretaceous (Hauterivian to Barremian age). The new fossil provides new evidence on concerning the origin of Dryopterites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Mariopteris was widespread throughout Europe and North America throughout most of the Late Palaeozoic. New fossil records of Mariopteris can provide a historical perspective on their evolution and palaeogeographic distributions. Three Mariopteris species, Mariopteris yongchangensis sp. nov., M. hexiensis sp. nov., and M. sp., from the Cisuralian of Shanxi Formation in Yongchang, Gansu Province, northwestern China are described in detail here on the basis of morphological and anatomical characteristics. We are able to deduce that the type species of Mariopteris in the Mississipian and Permian remained rare and simplified but that this taxon diversified in the Pennsylvanian. The fossil records and palaeoclimatic characteristics presented here suggest that the Guadalupian was the end of the dominance of Mariopteris and that this genus was more diverse in tropical environments in the Carboniferous-Permian. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Fotan flora represents a tropical rainforest biome and is known by its abundance of fossil plant remains, which mainly include leaves and fruits. In this article, we describe three Smilax (Smilacaceae) fossil taxa, S. fujianensis sp. nov., S. zhangpuensis sp. nov., and Smilax sp., from the Middle Miocene of Fujian Province, in southeastern China. Three morphotypes were examined for their gross morphological characteristics and cuticular structures, with especial reference to the venation patterns and stomata complexes. These new Miocene species increase the known diversity of the genus Smilax in low‐latitude regions and contribute to a better understanding of its interspecific variability. Smilax is sensitive to climatic change, and their spatial and temporal distribution fluctuates in response to the periods of warming or cooling in the Cenozoic. Moreover, Smilax primarily grows in warm and moist forests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Coniopteris was a dominate member of most Middle Jurassic floras globally. Strata in northern Xinjiang Province are well-known for containing abundant fern and ginkgo fossils, especially Coniopteris, usually identified as the Coniopteris-Phoenicopsis flora. We report a new species named Coniopteris sandaolingensis X. C. Yuan et B. N. Sun sp. nov in this paper which was collected from the Xishanyao Formation within the Turpan-Hami Basin. This species is recognized and described based on the architecture of its fronds and reproductive organ features. The fertile pinnae in this species are also slightly contracted, which suggests that currently known specimens belong to either Coniopteris or Eboracia to some extent, while its characteristic cup-like indusia show that it belongs to Coniopteris. This species is unique, however, because the first pinnule on the basiscopic side is forked into two equal lanceolate lobes. The results of our comparisons based on fossil Dicksoniaceae lead us to conclude that both present fossil and C. bella are likely transitional species that might provide insights into exactly how Coniopteris has evolved into other genera. The fossils discussed here led us to infer that the climate during the early Middle Jurassic of Sandaoling is warm and humid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]