Siphonospermum simplex Rydin et E.M.Friis

Plant Fossil Names Registry Number: PFN002775

Act LSID: urn:lsid:plantfossilnames.org:act:2775

Authors: C. Rydin & E. M. Friis

Rank: species

Genus: Siphonospermum Rydin et E.M.Friis

Reference: Rydin, C. & Friis, E. M. (2010): A new Early Cretaceous relative of Gnetales: Siphonospermum simplex gen. et sp. nov. from the Yixian Formation of Northeast China. – BMC Evolutionary Biology 10: 183 (6 pp.).

Page of description: 5

Illustrations or figures: figs 1, 2

Name is type for

Types

Original diagnosis/description

Erect stem with terminal units of reproductive structures. Leaves linear, opposite at node, with primary parallel venation. Reproductive units without supporting bracts and terminal on median and lateral branches, narrowly ovoid with rounded base, extended acuminate apex, each consisting of one ovule, orthotropous and unitegmic. Ovules surrounded by an inner sclerenchymatous and an outer parenchymatous layer. Integument extended apically into a long thread-like micropylar tube.

Etymology

From the simple architecture of the plant.

Stratigraphy

Cretaceous, Lower Cretaceous, Aptian
Yixian Formation; Early Aptian-early Late Aptian

Locality

China
No detailed locality information was attached to the specimen, but examination of the lithology suggests that the fossil was collected from the Jianshangou locality (Beipiao, Chaoyang City, west Liaoning) from the lower part of the Yixian Formation (Wang Xiaolin, personal communication 2006).