Miranthus kvacekii E.M.Friis, P.R.Crane et K.R.Pedersen

Plant Fossil Names Registry Number: PFN002673

Act LSID: urn:lsid:plantfossilnames.org:act:2673

Authors: E. M. Friis, P. R. Crane & K. R. Pedersen

Rank: species

Genus: Miranthus E.M.Friis, P.R.Crane et K.R.Pedersen

Reference: Friis, E. M., Crane, P. R. & Pedersen, K. R. (2021): Early flowers of primuloid Ericales from the Late Cretaceous of Portugal and their ecological and phytogeographic implications. – Fossil Imprint 77(2): 214–230.

Page of description: 222

Illustrations or figures: text-fig. 7a–e

Types

Original diagnosis/description

Flowers pedicellate, structurally bisexual, actinomorphic, pentamerous and isomerous. No bracteoles present immediately under calyx. Sepals narrowly triangular, basally fused, persistent. Petals ovate, longer than sepals. Stamens opposite corolla lobes; staminodes alternating with the corolla lobes. Ovary semi-inferior, unilocular, of five carpels; single style long with a wide stylar canal that is five-angled in cross-section. Apical portion of ovary with a slightly raised nectariferous ring and stomata-like openings. Placentation free, central. Ovules numerous and densely spaced on the placenta, but not immersed. Ovules anatropous and bitegmic. Fruit a capsule. Seeds many, minute, angular, with reticulate surface.
Epidermis of pedicel and outer (abaxial) epidermis of calyx with closely spaced, robust, stiff trichomes.

Etymology

In commemoration of Zlatko Kvaček and his outstanding contributions to Cretaceous and Cainozoic angiosperm palaeobotany.

Stratigraphy

Cretaceous, Upper Cretaceous
“Argilas de Vagos”, Campanian/Maastrichtian

Locality

Portugal
Mira (40° 25ʹ N; 08° 44ʹ 15ʺ W), about 25 km south of Aveiro, District of Coimbra