| Karkeniaceae Temporal range: | |
|---|---|
| | |
| Leaves and seeds of Karkenia henanensis (centre) with Yimaia recurva (top right) | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Gymnospermae |
| Division: | Ginkgophyta |
| Class: | Ginkgoopsida |
| Order: | Ginkgoales |
| Family: | † Karkeniaceae Krassilov, 1972 |
| Genera | |
Karkenia Archangelsky, 1965 | |
Karkeniaceae is an extinct family in the order Ginkgoales. It contains the single genus Karkenia. It is distinguished by "Ovulate organs consisting of a peduncle and helically arranged, up to about 100 small, orthotropous but incurved ovules; pedicel present; nucellus largely free." Unlike other ginkgoales, the seeds are borne on cone-like aggregations. Ovuluate organs of Karkenia are associated with leaves of the Ginkgoites , Sphenobaiera and Eretmophyllum types. It is known from the Hettangian to Aptian of both Hemispheres. [1]