Tsuga asiatica Meng-Xiao Wu et Z.K.Zhou in Wu, Huang, Su, Leng & Zhou

Plant Fossil Names Registry Number: PFN002722

Act LSID: urn:lsid:plantfossilnames.org:act:2722

Authors: M. X. Wu & Z. K. Zhou

Rank: species

Reference: Wu, M. X., Huang, J., Su, T., Leng, Q. & Zhou, Z. K. (2020): Tsuga seed cones from the late Paleogene of southwestern China and their biogeographical and paleoenvironmental implications. – Palaeoworld 29: 617–628.

Page of description: 619

Illustrations or figures: figs 4, 5A, B, D–F

Types

Original diagnosis/description

Seed cones sessile. Cones oblong, asymmetric, 14.8–20.2 mm long and 4.5–7.2 mm wide, with the length to width ratio 2.1–3.3. Cone base acute, deflected. Cone apex acute. Cone scales imbricate, spirally arranged, up to 4.5–6.1 mm long and 3.1–5.5 mm wide, with the length to width ratio 1.1–1.7in the middle portion of the cone, smaller at cone base and apex. Cone scales orbicular or oblong, or rarely lanceolate; apex rounded, rarely truncate; margin entire or sparsely lacerate. Abaxial surface of cone scale striate, with densely arranged 9–16 stripes of almost the same thickness and nearly equal distances between adjacent stripes.

Etymology

The specific epithet “asiatica” means “of Asia,” referring to the discovery region of these fossils.

Stratigraphy

Paleogene, Oligocene
32 ± 1 Ma (early Oligocene)

Locality

China
Lühe Town, Nanhua County, Yunnan Province