Kajanthus lusitanicus M.M.Mendes, G.W.Grimm, Pais et E.M.Friis

Plant Fossil Names Registry Number: PFN001907

Act LSID: urn:lsid:plantfossilnames.org:act:1907

Authors: M. M. Mendes, G. W. Grimm, J. Pais & E. M. Friis

Rank: species

Genus: Kajanthus M.M.Mendes, G.W.Grimm, Pais et E.M.Friis

Reference: Mendes, M. M., Grimm, G. W., Pais, J. & Friis, E. M. (2014): Fossil Kajanthus lusitanicus gen. et sp. nov. from Portugal: floral evidence for Early Cretaceous Lardizabalaceae (Ranunculales, basal eudicot). – Grana 53(4): 283–301.

Page of description: 288

Illustrations or figures: figs 1–4

Name is type for

Types

Original diagnosis/description

Flower small, trimerous, with staminate and pistillate organs in the same flower. Floral parts tightly packed. Perianth composed of six bulky perianth parts arranged in two whorls surrounded by narrow perianth parts, apparently also in two whorls. Androecium of six stamens in two whorls on the same radii as the bulky perianth parts. Stamen base broad and bulky. Anther broadly attached to the stamen base. Anthers tetrasporangiate with projecting theca. Dehiscence extrorse by longitudinal slits. Pollen tricolpate with finely punctate tectum. Gynoecium superior composed of three free carpels closely adhering along the ventral faces. Carpels of almost the same breadth and width for their full length. Placentation marginal with many slightly curved ovules arranged in two longitudinal rows. Stigmatic surface at top of carpels undifferentiated.

Etymology

The specific epithet lusitanicus is derived from Lusitania, the name for the imperial Roman province covering the central part of Portugal, where the specimen was collected.

Stratigraphy

Cretaceous, Lower Cretaceous
Famalicão Member of the Figueira da Foz Formation; Early Cretaceous (late Aptian–early Albian).

Locality

Portugal
Chicalhão opencast clay pit complex close to the village of Juncal, Estremadura region, western Portugal (39° 35′ 34.8″ N 08° 54′ 19.2″ W).