Thalassites Benzecry et Brack-Hanes

Plant Fossil Names Registry Number: PFN003641

Act LSID: urn:lsid:plantfossilnames.org:act:3641

Authors: A. Benzecry & S. D. Brack-Hanes

Rank: genus

Reference for this name: Benzecry, A. & Brack-Hanes, S. D. (2008): A new hydrocharitacean seagrass from the Eocene of Florida. – Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society 157(1): 19–30.

Page of description: 124

Original diagnosis/description

Dimorphic rhizome system. Striated, monopodial plagiotropic rhizome with closed annular scars at nodes and unbranched, straight roots at wide
and irregular intervals along internodes. Bifurcated orthotropic short shoots at regular nodal intervals along the rhizome. Amplexicaulous leaf scars on short shoots at regular intervals in an alternate pattern and distichous arrangement. Leaves arranged in terminal clusters. Leaves are eligulate and non-fibrous with a persistent, fibrous basal sheath. Strap-shaped leaf blades with entire margins, rounded apices, narrow parallel veins with perpendicular and oblique cross veins, and a prominent median vein. Crystals and tanniferous cells are abundant throughout the plant.

Etymology

Derivation: Its habitat [Thalass (living in the sea)-ites (fossil)].