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

Plant Fossil Names Registry Number: PFN003663

Act LSID: urn:lsid:plantfossilnames.org:act:3663

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

Rank: genus

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

Type

Original diagnosis/description

Nut globose to ellipsoidal, unilocular, single-seeded, rounded basally and apically, smooth without external ribs or grooves, bisected longitudinally by a median plane of germinal separation. Nut moderate in size (≥ 1 cm diameter). Primary septum prominent, extending upwards from the base, at right angles to the plane of nutshell separation. Secondary septum absent or poorly developed. Locule with smooth contours, apically pointed, pyriform in lateral view, deeply bilobed from the base (by the primary septum) or slightly 4-lobed when a secondary septum is present, with straight or slightly convex apical shoulder region. Nutshell and septa lacking lacunae.

Etymology

Abbreviation of Zodiakos (Gr referring to animals) + Carya, (Gr referring to walnut trees) (Brown 1956). This name alludes to our concept that this nut was adapted for animal dispersal.