Aculea

Aculea; Temporal range: Cretaceous PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Division:	Polypodiophyta
Genus:	† Aculea

Last updated September 01, 2025

Aculea is an extinct genus of ferns known from the Cretaceous period, primarily identified through fossil records in places like Antarctica and Australia.^[1]^[2] It includes species such as Aculea acicularis, which formed upright thickets with fronds arising from subterranean rhizomes, often in environments dominated by araucarian trees and other large plants.^[1]

Description

Fossil evidence suggests that individual plants could grow into dense thickets reaching up to 80 cm in height. The fronds were slender and rigid, bearing narrow, acicular (needle-like) pinnae. This morphology likely provided structural support in open or patchy forest environments.^[1]

References

1 2 3 Cantrill, David J. (1996-04-01). "Fern thickets from the Cretaceous of Alexander Island, Antarctica containing Alamatus bifarius Douglas and Aculea acicularis sp. nov". Cretaceous Research. 17 (2): 169–182. doi:10.1006/cres.1996.0013. ISSN 0195-6671.
↑ DOUGLAS, J.G. (1973). "The Mesozoic Floras of Victoria, Part 3". Geological Survey of Victoria.

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[:0-1] 1 2 3 Cantrill, David J. (1996-04-01). "Fern thickets from the Cretaceous of Alexander Island, Antarctica containing Alamatus bifarius Douglas and Aculea acicularis sp. nov". Cretaceous Research. 17 (2): 169–182. doi:10.1006/cres.1996.0013. ISSN 0195-6671.

[2] DOUGLAS, J.G. (1973). "The Mesozoic Floras of Victoria, Part 3". Geological Survey of Victoria.

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