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The largest amber-preserved flower revisited. Sci Rep 2023; 13:17. [PMID: 36635320 PMCID: PMC9837116 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-24549-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2022] [Accepted: 11/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Amber exquisitely preserves the delicate organs of fossil flowers for millions of years. However, flower inclusions can be rare and usually do not exceed 10 mm in size. Here we report an exceptionally large flower from late Eocene Baltic amber, measuring 28 mm across, which is about three times as large as most floral inclusions. This fossil was described over 150 years ago as Stewartia kowalewskii (Theaceae) and has never been revised. The analysis of pollen extracted from the anthers of the flower inclusion, however, revealed strong affinities to Asian species of Symplocos (Symplocaceae), prompting the new combination Symplocos kowalewskii comb. nov. et emend. This fossil represents the first record of Symplocaceae from Baltic amber and supports affinities of its flora to evergreen broadleaved and mixed mesophytic forests of present-day East and Southeast Asia. The rarity of such large-sized flower inclusions is likely due to the size of the resin outpouring and its properties, which might affect the embedding of plant organs.
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Coiro M, Roberts EA, Hofmann CC, Seyfullah LJ. Cutting the long branches: Consilience as a path to unearth the evolutionary history of Gnetales. Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.1082639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The Gnetales are one of the most fascinating groups within seed plants. Although the advent of molecular phylogenetics has generated some confidence in their phylogenetic placement of Gnetales within seed plants, their macroevolutionary history still presents many unknowns. Here, we review the reasons for such unknowns, and we focus the discussion on the presence of “long branches” both in their molecular and morphological history. The increased rate of molecular evolution and genome instability as well as the numerous unique traits (both reproductive and vegetative) in the Gnetales have been obstacles to a better understanding of their evolution. Moreover, the fossil record of the Gnetales, though relatively rich, has not yet been properly reviewed and investigated using a phylogenetic framework. Despite these apparent blocks to progress we identify new avenues to enable us to move forward. We suggest that a consilience approach, involving different disciplines such as developmental genetics, paleobotany, molecular phylogenetics, and traditional anatomy and morphology might help to “break” these long branches, leading to a deeper understanding of this mysterious group of plants.
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Grímsson F, Bouchal JM, Xafis A, Zetter R. Combined LM and SEM study of the middle Miocene (Sarmatian) palynoflora from the Lavanttal Basin, Austria: Part V. Magnoliophyta 3 - Myrtales to Ericales. GRANA 2020; 59:127-193. [PMID: 32406427 DOI: 10.1080/00173134.2011.585804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2019] [Accepted: 11/09/2019] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
The continued investigation of the middle Miocene palynoflora from the Lavanttal Basin reveals numerous additional angiosperm taxa. The Myrtales to Ericales pollen record documented here comprises 46 different taxa belonging to Onagraceae (Ludwigia), Ericaceae (Craigia, Reevesia, Tilia), Anacardiaceae (Pistacia), Rutaceae (Zanthoxylum), Sapindaceae (Acer), Santalaceae (Arceuthobium), Amaranthaceae, Caryophyllaceae, Polygonaceae (Persicaria, Rumex), Cornaceae (Alangium, Cornus, Nyssa), Ebenaceae (Diospyros), Ericaceae (Andromeda, Arbutus, Empetrum, Erica), Sapotaceae (Pouteria, Sideroxylon), Styracaceae (Rehderodendron) and Symplocaceae (Symplocos). Köppen signatures of potential modern analogues of the additional fossil woody elements confirm the hypothesis of a subtropical (Cfa, Cwa) climate at lower elevations and subsequent transition into a temperate climate with altitudinal succession (Cfa → Cfb/Dfa → Dfb; Cwa → Cwb → Dwb-climate). The fossil plants represent different vegetation units, from wetland lowlands to well-drained montane forests. Many of the fossil taxa have potential modern analogues that can be classified as nemoral and/or meridio-nemoral and/or semihumid-meridional vegetation elements. New is the recognition of oreotropical elements, which are direct indicators for a substantial altitudinal gradient.
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Affiliation(s)
- Friđgeir Grímsson
- Department of Botany and Biodiversity Research, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Johannes M Bouchal
- Department of Palaeobiology, Swedish Museum of Natural History, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Alexandros Xafis
- Department of Palaeontology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Reinhard Zetter
- Department of Palaeontology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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Grímsson F, Bouchal JM, Xafis A, Zetter R. Combined LM and SEM study of the middle Miocene (Sarmatian) palynoflora from the Lavanttal Basin, Austria: Part V. Magnoliophyta 3 - Myrtales to Ericales. GRANA 2020; 59:127-193. [PMID: 32406427 PMCID: PMC7195176 DOI: 10.1080/00173134.2019.1696400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2019] [Accepted: 11/09/2019] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The continued investigation of the middle Miocene palynoflora from the Lavanttal Basin reveals numerous additional angiosperm taxa. The Myrtales to Ericales pollen record documented here comprises 46 different taxa belonging to Onagraceae (Ludwigia), Ericaceae (Craigia, Reevesia, Tilia), Anacardiaceae (Pistacia), Rutaceae (Zanthoxylum), Sapindaceae (Acer), Santalaceae (Arceuthobium), Amaranthaceae, Caryophyllaceae, Polygonaceae (Persicaria, Rumex), Cornaceae (Alangium, Cornus, Nyssa), Ebenaceae (Diospyros), Ericaceae (Andromeda, Arbutus, Empetrum, Erica), Sapotaceae (Pouteria, Sideroxylon), Styracaceae (Rehderodendron) and Symplocaceae (Symplocos). Köppen signatures of potential modern analogues of the additional fossil woody elements confirm the hypothesis of a subtropical (Cfa, Cwa) climate at lower elevations and subsequent transition into a temperate climate with altitudinal succession (Cfa → Cfb/Dfa → Dfb; Cwa → Cwb → Dwb-climate). The fossil plants represent different vegetation units, from wetland lowlands to well-drained montane forests. Many of the fossil taxa have potential modern analogues that can be classified as nemoral and/or meridio-nemoral and/or semihumid-meridional vegetation elements. New is the recognition of oreotropical elements, which are direct indicators for a substantial altitudinal gradient.
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Affiliation(s)
- Friđgeir Grímsson
- Department of Botany and Biodiversity Research, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Johannes M. Bouchal
- Department of Palaeobiology, Swedish Museum of Natural History, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Alexandros Xafis
- Department of Palaeontology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Reinhard Zetter
- Department of Palaeontology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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Grímsson F, Bouchal JM, Xafis A, Zetter R. Combined LM and SEM study of the middle Miocene (Sarmatian) palynoflora from the Lavanttal Basin, Austria: Part V. Magnoliophyta 3 - Myrtales to Ericales. GRANA 2020; 59:127-193. [PMID: 32406427 DOI: 10.1080/00173134.2011.641450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2019] [Accepted: 11/09/2019] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
The continued investigation of the middle Miocene palynoflora from the Lavanttal Basin reveals numerous additional angiosperm taxa. The Myrtales to Ericales pollen record documented here comprises 46 different taxa belonging to Onagraceae (Ludwigia), Ericaceae (Craigia, Reevesia, Tilia), Anacardiaceae (Pistacia), Rutaceae (Zanthoxylum), Sapindaceae (Acer), Santalaceae (Arceuthobium), Amaranthaceae, Caryophyllaceae, Polygonaceae (Persicaria, Rumex), Cornaceae (Alangium, Cornus, Nyssa), Ebenaceae (Diospyros), Ericaceae (Andromeda, Arbutus, Empetrum, Erica), Sapotaceae (Pouteria, Sideroxylon), Styracaceae (Rehderodendron) and Symplocaceae (Symplocos). Köppen signatures of potential modern analogues of the additional fossil woody elements confirm the hypothesis of a subtropical (Cfa, Cwa) climate at lower elevations and subsequent transition into a temperate climate with altitudinal succession (Cfa → Cfb/Dfa → Dfb; Cwa → Cwb → Dwb-climate). The fossil plants represent different vegetation units, from wetland lowlands to well-drained montane forests. Many of the fossil taxa have potential modern analogues that can be classified as nemoral and/or meridio-nemoral and/or semihumid-meridional vegetation elements. New is the recognition of oreotropical elements, which are direct indicators for a substantial altitudinal gradient.
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Affiliation(s)
- Friđgeir Grímsson
- Department of Botany and Biodiversity Research, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Johannes M Bouchal
- Department of Palaeobiology, Swedish Museum of Natural History, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Alexandros Xafis
- Department of Palaeontology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Reinhard Zetter
- Department of Palaeontology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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Abstract
Viscum sahyadricum (Santalaceae) from the Western Ghats of India is here described as a new species with description, illustrations and notes.
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Sadowski EM, Hammel JU, Denk T. Synchrotron X-ray imaging of a dichasium cupule of Castanopsis from Eocene Baltic amber. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY 2018; 105:2025-2036. [PMID: 30548995 DOI: 10.1002/ajb2.1202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2018] [Accepted: 09/06/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
PREMISE OF THE STUDY The Eocene Baltic amber deposit represents the largest accumulation of fossil resin worldwide, and hundreds of thousands of entrapped arthropods have been recovered. Although Baltic amber preserves delicate plant structures in high fidelity, angiosperms of the "Baltic amber forest" remain poorly studied. We describe a pistillate partial inflorescence of Castanopsis (Fagaceae), expanding the knowledge of Fagaceae diversity from Baltic amber. METHODS The amber specimen was investigated using light microscopy and synchrotron-radiation-based X-ray micro-computed tomography (SRμCT). KEY RESULTS The partial inflorescence is a cymule, consisting of an involucre of scales that surround all four pistillate flowers, indicating a dichasium cupule. Subtending bracts are basally covered with peltate trichomes. Flowers possess an urecolate perianth of six nearly free lobes, 12 staminodia hidden by the perianth, and a tri-locular ovary that is convex-triangular in cross section. The exceptional three-dimensional preservation suggests that the fossil belongs to the extant East Asian genus Castanopsis. The amber inclusion represents the first record of Castanopsis from Baltic amber and the first pistillate inflorescence of Fagaceae from Eurasia. CONCLUSIONS The partial female inflorescence reported here provides an important addition to acorns of Castanopsis described from middle Eocene strata of Europe. Furthermore, the intercontinental distribution of Castanopsis in the Eocene is confirmed. The amber fossil also broadens the picture of the Baltic amber source area, indicating oligotrophic, sandy, bog-like habitats. Finally, this study underscores the great benefit of SRμCT as a powerful tool to investigate plant inclusions from amber in a nondestructive way.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva-Maria Sadowski
- Department of Geobiology, University of Göttingen, Goldschmidtstraße 3, Göttingen, 37077, Germany
| | - Jörg U Hammel
- Institute of Materials Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht, Max-Planck-Str. 1, 21502, Geesthacht, Germany
| | - Thomas Denk
- Department of Palaeobiology, Swedish Museum of Natural History, Box 50007, 10405, Stockholm, Sweden
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Mikó I, van de Kamp T, Trietsch C, Ulmer JM, Zuber M, Baumbach T, Deans AR. A new megaspilid wasp from Eocene Baltic amber (Hymenoptera: Ceraphronoidea), with notes on two non-ceraphronoid families: Radiophronidae and Stigmaphronidae. PeerJ 2018; 6:e5174. [PMID: 30140594 PMCID: PMC6103384 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.5174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2018] [Accepted: 06/14/2018] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Ceraphronoids are some of the most commonly collected hymenopterans, yet they remain rare in the fossil record. Conostigmus talamasi Mikó and Trietsch, sp. nov. from Baltic amber represents an intermediate form between the type genus, Megaspilus, and one of the most species-rich megaspilid genera, Conostigmus. We describe the new species using 3D data collected with synchrotron-based micro-CT equipment. This non-invasive technique allows for quick data collection in unusually high resolution, revealing morphological traits that are otherwise obscured by the amber. In describing this new species, we revise the diagnostic characters for Ceraphronoidea and discuss possible reasons why minute wasps with a pterostigma are often misidentified as ceraphronoids. Based on the lack of ceraphronoid characteristics, we remove Dendrocerus dubitatus Brues, 1937, Stigmaphronidae, and Radiophronidae from Ceraphronoidea and consider them as incertae sedis. We also provide some guidance for their future classification.
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Affiliation(s)
- István Mikó
- Frost Entomological Museum, Department of Entomology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States of America
| | - Thomas van de Kamp
- Laboratory for Applications of Synchrotron Radiation, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Carolyn Trietsch
- Frost Entomological Museum, Department of Entomology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States of America
| | - Jonah M. Ulmer
- Frost Entomological Museum, Department of Entomology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States of America
| | - Marcus Zuber
- Laboratory for Applications of Synchrotron Radiation, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Tilo Baumbach
- Laboratory for Applications of Synchrotron Radiation, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Karlsruhe, Germany
- Institute for Photon Science and Synchrotron Radiation, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Andrew R. Deans
- Frost Entomological Museum, Department of Entomology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States of America
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Seyfullah LJ, Beimforde C, Dal Corso J, Perrichot V, Rikkinen J, Schmidt AR. Production and preservation of resins - past and present. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2018; 93:1684-1714. [DOI: 10.1111/brv.12414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2017] [Revised: 03/14/2018] [Accepted: 03/21/2018] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Leyla J. Seyfullah
- Department of Geobiology; University of Göttingen; 37077 Göttingen Germany
| | | | - Jacopo Dal Corso
- Hanse-Wissenschaftskolleg, Institute for Advanced Study; 27753 Delmenhorst Germany
| | - Vincent Perrichot
- Univ Rennes, CNRS, Géosciences Rennes - UMR 6118; 35000 Rennes France
| | - Jouko Rikkinen
- Finnish Museum of Natural History, University of Helsinki; 00014 Helsinki Finland
- Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences; University of Helsinki; 00014 Helsinki Finland
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