Eucommia rolandii Temporal range: | |
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Scientific classification ![]() | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Asterids |
Order: | Garryales |
Family: | Eucommiaceae |
Genus: | Eucommia |
Species: | E. rolandii |
Binomial name | |
Eucommia rolandii Call & Dilcher | |
Eucommia rolandii is an extinct species of flowering plant in the family Eucommiaceae. E. rolandii is known from four fossil leaves found in Middle Eocene deposits of British Columbia, Canada and Mississippi, United States. E. rolandii is one of five described fossil species from North America assigned to the modern genus Eucommia . The other species are E. constans , E. eocenica , E. jeffersonensis , and E. montana .
Eucommia rolandii is known from only two fossils, a holotype and an additional specimen referred to the species. The holotype, specimen UF 11034, is housed in the paleobotanical collections of the Florida Museum of Natural History, and is from Middle Eocene rocks of the Talahatta Formation. [1] The specimen was recovered from strata exposed in the Bovay Clay pit near Holly Springs, Mississippi. The other fossil is marked as specimen SFU 14748, and is part of the collections at Simon Fraser University. SFU 14748 is composed of three attached leaves in association with, but not attached to, fruits identified as from the species E. montana collected from the Quilchena locality in British Columbia. [1] Eucommia rolandii was first studied by paleobotanists Victor B. Call and David L. Dilcher, both of the University of Florida in Gainesville. Call and Dilcher's 1997 type description of the new species was published in the botanical journal American Journal of Botany . [1] The specific epithet rolandii was chosen in honor of the American paleobotanist Roland W. Brown who was responsible for the first identification of Eocommia fossils found in North America. [1]
The leaves are elliptical in overall shape with a pointed base and a tip that gradually tapers to a point. The length of the leaves ranges up to 10 cm (3.9 in) with a width that can reach half that at 5 cm (2.0 in). A petiole up to 2 cm (0.79 in) long is attached at the base. [1] The leaves have a single main vein with at least five alternating pairs of secondary veins placed along its length. The lower secondary veins have a brochidodromous structuring, forming large loops that do not reach the leaf margin but curve up and attach to the next secondary up. The secondaries near the tip have a similar looping structure, but with a series of smaller loops formed by cross-veins rather than the single continuous loop of the basal secondaries. Tertiary veins run from the main vein out to the margin, some forking, and all straight to slightly wavy. The finer vein structure forms a network of irregularly shaped, polygonal areolae. The margins of the leaves are serrated, with the teeth having a strong curve towards the leave tip. This results in the teeth often being pressed against the leaf margin above the tooth or against the base of the next tooth along the margin. The middle area of each tooth hosts very small veins originating in the marginal vein structure. E. rolandii leaves are notable for the preserved latex that is found on them. All the studied leaves of E. rolandii have small bundles of latex filaments that are found in all the veins. The filaments are rarely found in the areolae that are formed by the veins. [1]
Eucommia ulmoides is a species of small tree native to China. It belongs to the monotypic family Eucommiaceae. It is considered vulnerable in the wild, but is widely cultivated in China for its bark and is highly valued in herbology such as traditional Chinese medicine.
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 1930.
Neviusia dunthornei is an extinct species of flowering plants in the family Rosaceae. The species is solely known from the early Eocene, Ypresian stage, Allenby Formation Lacustrine deposits near the town of Princeton, British Columbia.
Eucommia is a genus of small trees now native to China, with a fossil record that shows a much wider distribution. The single living species, Eucommia ulmoides, is near threatened in the wild, but is widely cultivated in China for its bark, and is highly valued in herbology such as traditional Chinese medicine.
Eucommia eocenica is an extinct species of flowering plant in the family Eucommiaceae. E. eocenica is known from fossil fruits found in the middle Eocene Claiborne Formation deposits of the southeastern United States. E. eocenica is one of five described fossil species from North America assigned to the modern genus Eucommia. The other species are E. constans, E. jeffersonensis, E. montana, and E. rowlandii.
Eucommia montana is an extinct species of flowering plant in the family Eucommiaceae. E. montana is known from fossil fruits found in Eocene deposits of the northwestern United States southeastern British Columbia south to Oregon and east to Montana and Colorado. E. montana is one of five described fossil species from North America assigned to the modern genus Eucommia. The other species are E. constans, E. eocenica, E. jeffersonensis, and E. rowlandii.
Eucommia constans is an extinct species of flowering plant in the family Eucommiaceae. Eucommia is a genus of small trees now native to China, with a fossil record that shows a much wider distribution. E. constans is known from fossil fruits found in Miocene to Pleistocene deposits of east-central Mexico. E. constans is one of five described fossil species from North America assigned to the modern genus Eucommia. The other species are E. eocenica, E. jeffersonensis, E. montana, and E. rowlandii.
Eucommia jeffersonensis is an extinct species of flowering plant in the family Eucommiaceae. It is known from a fossil fruit found in latest Eocene deposits of Oregon, United States. E. jeffersonensis is one of five described fossil species from North America assigned to the modern genus Eucommia. The other species are E. constans, E. eocenica, E. montana, and E. rolandii.
Acer ivanofense is an extinct maple species in the family Sapindaceae described from series of isolated fossil leaves. The species was described from Eocene to Oligocene aged fossils found in the United States of America. It is one of several extinct species placed in the living section Glabra.
Orontium wolfei is an extinct golden-club species in the family Araceae described from a series of isolated fossil leaves. The species is known from Eocene sediments exposed in the state of Washington in the United States of America and the province of British Columbia in Canada. It is one of several extinct species placed in the living golden-club genus Orontium.
Rhus malloryi is an extinct species of flowering plant in the sumac family Anacardiaceae. The species is known from fossil leaves found in the early Eocene deposits of northern Washington state, United States. The species was first described from a series of isolated fossil leaves in shale. R. malloryi is one of four sumac species to be described from the Klondike Mountain Formation, and forms a hybrid complex with the other three species.
Tsukada is an extinct genus of flowering plant in the family Nyssaceae related to the modern "dove-tree", Davidia involucrata, containing the single species Tsukada davidiifolia. The genus is known from fossil leaves found in the early Eocene deposits of northern Washington state, United States and a similar aged formation in British Columbia, Canada.
Acer lincolnense is an extinct maple species in the family Sapindaceae described from a group of fossil leaves and fruits. The species is known from Eocene sediments exposed in the US state of Montana. It is tentatively placed into the living Acer section Cissifolia.
Ulmus okanaganensis is an extinct species of flowering plant in the family Ulmaceae related to the modern elms. The species is known from fossil leaves, flowers, and fruits found in the early Eocene deposits of northern Washington state, United States and similar aged formations in British Columbia, Canada.
Betula leopoldae is an extinct species of birch in the family Betulaceae. The species is known from fossil leaves, catkins, and inflorescences found in the early Eocene deposits of northern Washington state, United States, and similar aged formations in British Columbia, Canada. The species is placed as basal in Betula, either as a stem group species, or an early divergent species.
Rhus boothillensis is an extinct species of flowering plant in the sumac family Anacardiaceae. The species is known from fossil leaves found in the early Eocene deposits of northern Washington State, United States. The species was first described from fossil leaves found in the Klondike Mountain Formation. Rhus boothillensis likely hybridized with the other Klondike Mountain formation sumac species Rhus garwellii, Rhus malloryi, and Rhus republicensis.
Rhus garwellii is an extinct species of flowering plant in the sumac family Anacardiaceae. The species is known from fossil leaves found in the early Eocene deposits of northern Washington State, United States. The species was first described from fossil leaves found in the Klondike Mountain Formation. R. garwellii likely hybridized with the other Klondike Mountain formation sumac species R. boothillensis, R. malloryi, and R. republicensis.
Rhus republicensis is an extinct species of flowering plant in the sumac family, Anacardiaceae. The species is known from fossil leaves found in the early Eocene deposits of northern Washington state in the United States. The species was first described from fossil leaves found in the Klondike Mountain Formation. R. republicensis likely hybridized with the other Klondike Mountain formation sumac species Rhus boothillensis, Rhus garwellii, and Rhus malloryi.
Paraconcavistylon is an extinct genus of flowering plant in the family Trochodendraceae comprises a single species, Paraconcavistylon wehrii. The genus is known from fossil fruits and leaves found in the early Eocene deposits of northern Washington state, United States, and southern British Columbia, Canada. The species was initially described as a member of the related extinct genus Concavistylon as "Concavistylon" wehrii, but subsequently moved to the new genus Paraconcavistylon in 2020 after additional study.
Barghoornia is an extinct genus of flowering plants in the family Burseraceae containing the solitary species Barghoornia oblongifolia. The species is known from fossil leaves found in the early Eocene deposits of northern Washington state, United States.
Data related to Eucommia rolandii at Wikispecies