Occurrence of <i>Shorea</i> Roxburgh ex C. F. Gaertner (Dipterocarpaceae) in the Neogene Siwalik forests of eastern Himalaya and its biogeography during the Cenozoic of Southeast Asia

We report the occurrence of two leaf impressions and one leaf compression along with one winged fruit and two fruiting calyx lobes, resembling those of Shorea Roxburgh ex C. F. Gaertner, in the lower Siwalik (Dafla Formation, middle to upper Miocene), middle Siwalik (Subansiri Formation, Pliocene) and upper Siwalik (Kimin Formation, upper Pliocene to lower Pleistocene) sediments exposed in Arunachal Pradesh, eastern Himalaya. We determine their taxonomic positions based on morphological comparison with similar extant and fossil specimens and discuss their phytogeographic and paleoclimatic implications in terms of the distribution and habitat of fossil and modern populations. The Miocene winged fruit is recognized as Shorea pinjoliensis Khan, R.A. Spicer et Bera, sp. nov. while the Pliocene and Plio-Pleistocene fruiting calyx lobes are recognized as Shorea bhalukpongensis Khan, R.A. Spicer et Bera, sp. nov. and Shorea chandernagarensis Khan, R.A. Spicer et Bera, sp. nov. respectively. Based on leaf architecture the Miocene, Pliocene and Plio-Pleistocene leaves are recognized as Shorea mioobtusa Khan, R.A. Spicer et Bera, sp. nov., Shorea pliotumbuggaia Khan, R.A. Spicer et Bera, sp. nov. and Shorea nepalensis Konomatsu et Awasthi respectively. The discovery of members of Shorea indicates that they had arrived in a tropical, warm and humid eastern Himalaya by the Mio-Pleistocene. Present and earlier records of Shorea suggest that this genus was a common forest element during Neogene (Miocene time) as well as in the Siwalik forests including Arunachal sub-Himalaya. In this paper, we also review in detail the biogeographic history and suggest possible migration routes of the genus

A new species of winged fruit from the Miocene of Ecuador: Tipuana ecuatoriana (Leguminosae)

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/141584/1/ajb213863.pd

Miocene winged fruits of Loxopterygium (Anacardiaceae) from the Ecuadorian Andes

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/141449/1/ajb21767.pd

Predicting dispersal of auto-gyrating fruit in tropical trees : a case study from the Dipterocarpaceae

Acknowledgments We thank the Sabah Forestry Department for access to SFR and the Rainforest Discovery Center for use of the canopy tower. JRS is funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNF) grant number PDFMP3_132479/1. We are grateful for the comments of two anonymous reviewers which greatly improved the manuscript.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Eocene–early Oligocene climate and vegetation change in southern China: Evidence from the Maoming Basin

Although the Eocene-Oligocene climate transition marks a critical point in the development of the ‘icehouse’ global climate of the present little is known about this important change in the terrestrial realm at low latitudes. Our palynological study of the Shangcun Formation shows it to be early Oligocene in age: palyno-assemblages in the lower part of the formation indicate a cool interval dominated by conifer pollen in the earliest Oligocene followed by a warmer regime in the second half of the early Oligocene. To quantify middle Eocene to late early Oligocene climate conditions at low (~ 20°N) palaeolatitudes in southern Asia several thousand leaf fossil specimens from the Maoming Basin, southern China, were subjected to a multivariate (CLAMP) analysis of leaf form. For terrestrial palaeoclimate comparisons to be valid the palaeoaltitude at which the proxy data are obtained must be known. We find that leaves preserved in the Youganwo (middle Eocene), Huangniuling (late Eocene) and Shangcun (early Oligocene) formations were likely to have been deposited well above sea level at different palaeoelevations. In the Youganwo Formation fine-grained sediments were deposited at an altitude of ~ 1.5 km, after which the basin dropped to ~ 0.5 km by the time the upper Huangniuling sediments were deposited. The basin floor then rose again by 0.5 km reaching an altitude of approximately 1 km in which the Shangcun Formation fine-grained sediments were accumulated. Within the context of these elevation changes the prevailing climates experienced by the Youganwo, Lower Huangniuling, Upper Huangniuling and Shangcun fossil floras were humid subtropical with hot summers and warm winters, but witnessed a progressive increase in rainfall seasonality. By the early Oligocene rainfall seasonality was similar to that of the modern monsoonal climate of Guangdong Province, southern China. All floras show leaf physiognomic spectra most similar to those growing under the influence of the modern Indonesia-Australia Monsoon, but with no evidence of any adaptation to today's South or East Asia Monsoon regimes. The Upper Huangniuling Flora, rich in dipterocarp plant megafossils, grew in the warmest conditions with the highest cold month mean temperature and at the lowest altitude

Inclusiones de flores de Podopterus (Polygonaceae) del ámbar del Mioceno de Simojovel de Allende, Chiapas, México

Background and Aims: The Miocene amber from Chiapas, Mexico, shows high diversity of biological inclusions such as plants, fungi, arthropods, and vertebrates, being one of the most important amber-bearing areas worldwide. The aim of this work is to describe a new record based on four bisexual flowers belonging to the fossil species Podopterus mijangosae, that has been described recently based on its winged fruits only.Methods: The morphological and anatomical characteristics of the four fossil flowers were observed using a binocular stereoscopic microscope. The taxonomic affinity was decided by consulting specialized literature, as well as the review of herbarium material of the genera Podopterus, Fallopia, and Neomillspaughia of Polygonaceae.Key results: The four fossil specimens are bisexual, small, and have actinomorphic flowers, with differentiated perianth, three petals and three sepals per series, stamens are free and with thread-like filaments, anthers are dithecal and basifixed, the ovary is superior, syncarpous, 3-angular, with three free styles, and capitate stigmas. Conclusions: This new report of flowers of Podopterus adds more evidence that the family Polygonaceae was an important component of the tropical forest of Simojovel de Allende, Chiapas, Mexico, during the Miocene.Antecedentes y Objetivos: El ámbar del Mioceno de Chiapas, México, presenta una alta diversidad de inclusiones biológicas como plantas, hongos, artrópodos y vertebrados, siendo una de las áreas productoras de ámbar más importantes a nivel mundial. El objetivo de este trabajo es describir un nuevo registro basado en cuatro flores bisexuales pertenecientes a la especie fósil Podopterus mijangosae, que ha sido descrito recientemente con base solo en sus frutos alados. Métodos: Las características morfológicas y anatómicas de cuatro flores fósiles fueron observadas utilizando un microscopio estereoscópico. La afinidad taxonómica se realizó consultando literatura especializada, así como la revisión de material de herbario de los géneros Podopterus, Fallopia y Neomillspaughia de Polygonaceae.Resultados clave: Los cuatro especímenes fósiles están representadas por flores bisexuales, pequeñas, actinomorfas, con perianto diferenciado, tres pétalos y tres sépalos por serie, estambres libres con filamentos filiformes, anteras ditecas, basifijas, ovario súpero, sincarpo, tri-angular, con tres estilos libres y estigmas capitados. Conclusiones: Este nuevo reporte de flores de Podopterus agrega más evidencia de que la familia Polygonaceae fue un componente importante del bosque tropical de Simojovel de Allende, Chiapas, México, durante el Mioceno

Leaf micro-morphological characteristics of selected Vatica species (Dipterocarpaceae) from Kubah National Park, Sarawak

Genus Vatica L. is one of the largest groups in the family Dipterocarpaceae with 71 species have been botanically described, distributed from India, Sri Lanka to Myanmar, Indochina, Sumatra, Borneo and the Philippines. Borneo with 35 species has the largest representative. In Sarawak, 32 species have been recorded, occurring especially in mixed and upper dipterocarp forests and also non-saline habitats from sea level up to about 1,800 m altitude. Kubah National Park is among the richest site for genus Vatica in Sarawak with 11 species recorded. The Vatica species are distinguished from other genera of Dipterocarpaceae by the absence of looped intra-marginal nerves on leaf, winged fruits encloses less than half of the nut, glabrous anthers and stout style. However, in term of inter species within its genus, Vatica is the most difficult dipterocarp to be identified, which explains why this common genus so poorly known. This study was conducted to examine leaves characteristics particularly its micro morphology to differentiate some selected Vatica species from Kubah National Park. Leaves samples were observed via Scanning Electronic Microscope (SEM). The characteristics and indumentums were compared between each species and noted. Results show that leaf micro morphology characteristics are significantly useful to differentiate the species level and intra-specific level

Paleogén flóra- és klímaváltozások = Floral and climatic development of the Paleogene

Vizsgálatainkkal arra kívántunk választ adni, hogy - a Belső Kárpáti Térség érintett eocén-oligocén flóra-spektruma alapján kimutatható-e florisztikai és klímaváltozás, és milyen minőségűek ezek a változások. Fosszilis flórák taxonómiai feldolgozása alapján az eocén - kora oligocén flórák jelentős florisztikai hasonlóságot mutatnak, a termofil elemek dominanciája mellett jellemző a mérsékelt klímaigényű, lombhullató elemek hiánya. Eltérést jelent a nyitvatermők hiánya, a szárnyas termések ritka előfordulása, valamint számos a kora oligocénre jellemző nemzetség alárendelt szerepe a vizsgált eocén flórákban. Ezzel szemben a kora oligocén/késő oligocén flórák alapján gyökeres florisztikai változás tapasztalható a termofil elemek nagy részének eltűnésével, és a mérsékelt elemek növekvő arányával a késő oligocén flórákban. A klímaváltozások nyomonkövetéséhez több módszert alkalmaztunk ? coexistence approach (CA), sztómadenzitás vizsgálatok, d13C mérések, levélindex. Kimutattuk az évi átlaghőmérséklet csökkenését a kora-késő oligocénben, amely leginkább a leghidegebb hónap hőmérsékletének csökkenésével magyarázható. Sztóma-denzitás vizsgálatok alapján a kora oligocén paleogén medence hazai és szlovéniai flóralelőhelyei között élőhelyi különbséget mutattunk ki. Levélmorfológiai vizsgálatok, a szárnyas termések előfordulásbeli különbségei egyértelműen a vizsgált eocén vegetáció zártabb jellegére, a kora oligocén flórák esetében csapadékbeli szezonalitásra utalnak. | The project was focused on the Eocene-Oligocene floral spektra of the Inner Carpathian Region in order to trace spatial and temporal pattern of floristic and climatic changes. Based on systematic studies of Eocene-Early Oligocene floras significant floristic similarity with the dominance of thermophilous taxa and the absence of temperate elements is indicated. Disparate characters of Eocene floras are the absence of gymnosperms, the rare occurrence of winged fruits and the subordinate role of genera characteristic in the Early Oligocene. In contrast, a definite floristic change is observable with the disappearance of most thermophilous elements and increasing ratio of temperate elements in the Late Oligocene assemblages. In order to trace the climate pattern of the studied area and time scale numerous methods were adopted ? coexistence approach, stomatal density, d13C measurements, leaf morphology. Quantitative estimates of climate variables indicate the slight decrease of mean annual temperature during the Early/Late Oligocene which is mainly attributable to the decrease of the mean temperature of the coldest month. Estimates of stomatal density suggest palaeoecological difference between the Slovenian and Hungarian localities of the Early Oligocene Palaeogene Basin. Leaf morphology, the disparate occurrence of winged fruits in the Eocene and Early Oligocene assemblages indicates a more open vegetation and seasonality in precipitation in the latter

Seed germination behaviour of Terminalia paniculata Roth (Combretaceae), an economically important endemic tree to peninsular India

The present study was conducted to investigate the seed germination behaviour of Terminalia paniculata, a commercially important tree component of deciduous forests of Peninsular India. The study included the identification of maturity index to determine the optimum collection period of the most viable seeds with good seed longevity. Species are characterized by very low germinability and poor regeneration status. Observations were made throughout the flowering and fruiting period on selected matured trees. Seed viability was tested at various stages of maturity and seed longevity was evaluated. The results indicated that the 16th week after anthesis with red-colored fruits recorded the maximum viability (2.60% germination) that shows it is the best period for the collection of seeds. Seed emptiness is very high in T. paniculata (4 to 2%) compared to other Terminalia species (low emptiness). Pre-sowing treatments were not effective in enhancing seed germination and viability. Seeds can be stored up to 6 months in an air-tight metallic container at 4oC and 45 ± 5 % relative humidity. The results of the study can be taken as a reference for various other tree improvement programs and further studies.