Diploporus

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Diploporus
Temporal range:
Middle Eocene 45-43mya
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Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Gymnosperms
Division: Pinophyta
Class: Pinopsida
Order: Pinales
Family: Taxaceae
Genus:† Diploporus
Manchester
Species:
†D. torreyoides
Binomial name
†Diploporus torreyoides
Manchester

Diploporus is an extinct genus of conifers in the yew family Taxaceae, containing the single species Diploporus torreyoides [1] known from the middle Eocene of north central Oregon [1] and the Late Paleocene of south central North Dakota. [2] The species was first described from a series of isolated fossil seeds in chert. [1]

Contents

History and classification

Diploporus torreyoides has been identified from a single location in the Clarno Formation, the Clarno nut beds, type locality for both the formation and the species. The nut beds are approximately 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) east of the unincorporated community of Clarno, Oregon and currently considered to be middle Eocene in age, based on averaging zircon fission track radiometric dating which yielded an age of 43.6 and 43.7 ± 10 million years ago and Argon–argon dating radiometric dating which yielded a 36.38 ± 1.31 to 46.8 ± 3.36 mya date. [1] The average of the dates resulted in an age range of 45 to 43 mya. The beds are composed of silica and calcium carbonate cemented tuffaceous sandstones, siltstones, and conglomerates which preserve either a lake delta environment, or alternatively periodic floods and volcanic mudflows preserved with hot spring activity. [1] An unidentified species of Diploporus has been reported from the Sentinel Butte Formation near the town of Almont, North Dakota and the Beicegal Creek, North Dakota. [2] The age of the formation is based on the recovery of late Tiffanian mammals in the upper section of the formation along with the floral and palynological assemblages of the formation. [3]

The species was described from a group of seventy five type specimens, the holotype specimen UF8542, which is currently preserved in the paleobotanical collections of the University of Florida and a large series of paratypes, totaling seventy-four specimens. The paratypes are in the collections of the National Museum of Natural History, the University of Florida, and the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry. The fossils were part of approximately 20,000 specimens collected from 1942 to 1989 by Thomas Bones, A. W. Hancock, R. A. Scott, Steven R. Manchester, and a number of high school students. [1]

The Diploporus specimens were studied by paleobotanist Steven R. Manchester of the University of Florida. He published his 1994 type description for Diploporus torreyoides in the journal Palaeontographica Americana [1] In his type description Manchester noted the generic name is derived from the Greek words Diplo meaning "twofold" and poros meaning "passage" in reference to the paired vascular scars. The specific epithet torreyoides, reflects the similarities between Diploporus and the living genus Torreya . [1]

Description

The seeds of Diploporus are subovoid and bilaterally symmetrical with a slightly pointed tip and round base. The seeds have an overall length raging between 6.7–8.0 millimetres (0.26–0.31 in) and a width between 5.4–8.0 centimetres (2.1–3.1 in). [1] There is a sharp crest along the upper third of the seed that is formed by the dorsal and ventral faces. As with other Taxacaeae genera Diploporus has a pair of vascular scars on sides, located at the widest point. The seeds are identified from Taxus and Torreya species by several features of the exterior morphology. The overall shape of the base is not as pointed as that of Torreya but not as truncate as the base of Taxus and in size, Diploporus seeds are larger than Taxus seeds, but smaller than Torreya. [1]

Related Research Articles

<i>Torreya</i> Genus of conifers

Torreya is a genus of conifers comprising six or seven species placed in the family Taxaceae, though sometimes formerly placed in Cephalotaxaceae. Four species are native to eastern Asia; the other two are native to North America. They are small to medium-sized evergreen trees reaching 5–20 m, rarely 25 m, tall. Common names include nutmeg yew.

Paleontology or palaeontology is the study of prehistoric life forms on Earth through the examination of plant and animal fossils. This includes the study of body fossils, tracks (ichnites), burrows, cast-off parts, fossilised feces (coprolites), palynomorphs and chemical residues. Because humans have encountered fossils for millennia, paleontology has a long history both before and after becoming formalized as a science. This article records significant discoveries and events related to paleontology that occurred or were published in the year 1954.

Paleontology or palaeontology is the study of prehistoric life forms on Earth through the examination of plant and animal fossils. This includes the study of body fossils, tracks (ichnites), burrows, cast-off parts, fossilised feces (coprolites), palynomorphs and chemical residues. Because humans have encountered fossils for millennia, paleontology has a long history both before and after becoming formalized as a science. This article records significant discoveries and events related to paleontology that occurred or were published in the year 1940.

Paleontology or palaeontology is the study of prehistoric life forms on Earth through the examination of plant and animal fossils. This includes the study of body fossils, tracks (ichnites), burrows, cast-off parts, fossilised feces (coprolites), palynomorphs and chemical residues. Because humans have encountered fossils for millennia, paleontology has a long history both before and after becoming formalized as a science. This article records significant discoveries and events related to paleontology that occurred or were published in the year 1933.

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| authority = Wolfe & Wehr Langeria is an extinct genus of flowering plants in the family Platanaceae containing the solitary species Langeria magnifica. Langeria is known from fossil leaves found in the early Eocene deposits of northern Washington state, United States and similar aged formations in British Columbia, Canada.

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Manchester, S.R. (1994). "Fruits and Seeds of the Middle Eocene Nut Beds Flora, Clarno Formation, Oregon". Palaeontographica Americana. 58: 30–31.
  2. 1 2 Pigg, K.B.; DeVore, M.L. (2010). "Floristic composition and variation in late Paleocene to early Eocene floras in North America". Bulletin of Geosciences. 85 (1): 135–154. doi: 10.3140/bull.geosci.1136 .
  3. ↑ Zhou, Z.; Quan, C.; Liu, Y-S (2012). "Tertiary Ginkgo ovulate organs with associated leaves from North Dakota, U.S.A., and their evolutionary significance". International Journal of Plant Sciences. 173 (1): 67–80. doi:10.1086/662651. JSTOR   10.1086/662651. S2CID   86289858.
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