New fossil leaves and fruits of Lauraceae from the Middle Miocene of Fujian, southeastern China differentiated using a cluster analysis

<p>The fossil record of Lauraceae can be traced back to the Early Cretaceous of eastern Asia based on fossil flowers. Here, we refer a number of new occurrences of leaf and fruit fossils of Lauraceae from the Middle Miocene of Zhangpu, Fujian, China, to seven species. These data provide evidence supporting the fact that a diverse subtropical, or tropical, Lauraceae-dominated evergreen forest surrounded this region 15 million years ago (Mya). The Lauraceae fossils presented in this paper provide evidence for the evolution of this group as well as new materials that enable the study of the Fujian Province Neogene flora. The fossils described in this paper fill in the gaps in studies about Lauraceae pollen in the Middle Miocene from Fotan, Fujian, China. In addition, these fossils also enrich the Middle Miocene fossil records of Lauraceae in eastern Asia, especially improving the study of the macrostructures and reproductive organs of fossil Lauraceae from southern China. The similarity between fossil and modern fruits shows that during the Middle Miocene the fruit morphological of Lauraceae have changed very little. We also identify families where the fossils we report belong to their closest relatives and can be used to reconstruct the paleoenvironment of Fujian in the Middle Miocene.</p

A new species of <i>Cyathocarpus</i> with <i>in situ</i> spores from the lower Permian of Gansu, northwestern China

<p>Well-preserved Marattialean fertile fronds are analyzed in this paper that come from the Cisuralian Shanxi Formation of Yongchang, Gansu Province, northwestern China. In particular, synangium in fronds and <i>in situ</i> spores are analyzed in the lab. Data show that the synangium of this species contains between four and five radially arranged pedicellate sporangia. The spores of this plant are small, between 21 and 30 μm, monolete and microgranulate with no visible annule. The fossils presented in this study are included within the genus <i>Cyathocarpus</i>. Furthermore, these spore masses and spores <i>in situ</i> of this genus are described in detail at the first time as a component of the Cathaysian flora. Based on comparisons with previously reported fossil records of these plants, we determined a series of differences. Thus, the fossils presented here are referred to a new species. In addition, the reproductive organs of the new fossils described in this paper provide some valuable taxonomic information. Based on the paleogeographic distribution of <i>Cyathocarpus</i> and the position of paleoplates in Late Paleozoic, we speculated that one of the possible migrated routes of <i>Cyathocarpus</i> is from the Euramerica to the North China Block and Alashan Terrane, terminating in the South China Block.</p

The diversity and paleoenvironmental significance of <i>Calophyllum</i> (Clusiaceae) from the Miocene of southeastern China

<p>Three species within the genus <i>Calophyllum</i> collected from middle Miocene Fotan Group sediments in Zhangpu County, Fujian, southeastern China are described in this paper. These fossils include <i>Calophyllum zhangpuensis</i> sp. nov., <i>Calophyllum striatum</i>, and <i>Calophyllum suraikholaensis</i>. The new fossil species <i>C. zhangpuensis</i> sp. nov. is oval, possesses entire leaves with closely spaced parallel secondary veins and has a round, or slightly retuse, apex. These specimens represent the first known fossil records of this relative wide leaf-type form of <i>Calophyllum</i> from China and have a length:width (L:W) ratio less than 3:1. In combination with the known modern geographic distribution and habitats of this wide leaf-type <i>Calophyllum</i> and other plants, data suggest that the middle Miocene Fotan flora is indicative of a warm climate. Thus, based on available fossil data, we speculate that this genus probably originated in India during the Paleocene before spreading from India to Bangladesh and into China, Sumatra, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Java during the Neogene, leading to its modern distribution. At least, the 3 fossil species in this region can explain floristic exchange between India, Fujian, and South China, which is consistent with previous studies; the occurrence of these 3 species indicates that <i>Calophyllum</i> began to diversity in China no later than the Miocene.</p