Zodicarya cantia (E.Reid et M.Chandler) Manchester, M.Deng et M.E.Collinson in Deng, Collinson, Zhang & Manchester

Plant Fossil Names Registry Number: PFN003662

Act LSID: urn:lsid:plantfossilnames.org:act:3662

Authors: S. R. Manchester, M. Deng & M. E. Collinson

Rank: species

Basionym: Juglandicarya cantia E.Reid et M.Chandler

Genus: Zodicarya M.Deng, M.E.Collinson et Manchester in Deng, Collinson, Zhang & Manchester

Reference for this name: Deng, M., Collinson, M. E., Zhang, W. P. & Manchester, S. R. (2026): Earliest evidence of animal-dispersed nuts in the juglandaceae: Zodicarya gen. nov. from Phe paleocene of North America and early Eocene of England. – Fossil Imprint 82(1): 60–74.

Page of description: 62

Types for basionym

Original diagnosis/description

Endocarp globular, smooth, and without external nodulations, dehiscing into equal valves, one-loculed, one-seeded; walls thick, without cavities. Seed erect, orthotropous, conforming to the shape of the locule, simple above, two-lobed below, each lobe being slightly emarginate at the base. Diameter of endocarp about 12 mm.

Emended diagnosis

[Deng et al. 2026: Fossil Imprint, 82(1): 62]
Fruit a unilocular, single-seeded nut. Nut globose, 12 mm high × 12 mm wide, rounded basally and apically, smooth without external ribs or grooves. Nutshell thickest in the apical region, thickness gradually decreasing toward the base, without lacunae, composed of isodiametric sclereids. Primary septum prominent (ca 0.17–0.33 mm in thickness), at right angles to the plane of separation of the two halves of the nut. Secondary septum absent (holotype) or weakly developed (paratype). Locule with smooth contours, deeply bilobed from the base due to the primary septum, and with straight or slightly convex apical shoulder region.

Stratigraphy

Paleogene, Eocene, Ypresian
London Clay Formation, Ypresian, Early Eocene [according to Deng et al. 2026: Fossil Imprint, 82(1): 62]

Locality

United Kingdom
Isle of Sheppey, northern coast of Kent, England [according to Deng et al. 2026: Fossil Imprint, 82(1): 62]