Rhus republicensis

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Rhus republicensis
Temporal range: Ypresian
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Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Sapindales
Family: Anacardiaceae
Genus: Rhus
Species:
R. republicensis
Binomial name
Rhus republicensis
Flynn, DeVore, & Pigg, 2019

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 .

Contents

Distribution and paleoenvironment

Republic, Washington, origin of the species name. Republic Ferry County 01.jpg
Republic, Washington, origin of the species name.

Rhus republicensis is known from specimens which are recovered from an outcrop of the early Eocene, Ypresian [1] [2] Klondike Mountain Formation in Republic. [2] The Klondike Mountain Formation preserves an upland temperate flora which was first interpreted as being microthermal, [3] [4] however further study has shown the flora to be more mesothermal in nature. [2] The plant community preserved in the Klondike Mountain formation is a mixed conifer–broadleaf forest with large pollen elements of birch and golden larch, but also having notable traces of fir, spruce, cypress, and palm.

Taxonomy

The species was described from a type specimen, the holotype leaf, number SR 10-29-20 A&B, plus a pair paratype specimens, SR 92-05-05 and SR 97-03-15 A&B. The type series specimens are currently preserved in the paleobotanical collections of the Stonerose Interpretive Center in Republic, Washington. The specimens were studied by paleobotanists Soon Flynn and Kathleen Pigg of Arizona State University with Melanie DeVore of Georgia College and State University. They published their 2019 type description for R. republicensis in the International Journal of Plant Sciences . The etymology of the chosen specific name republicensis is a reference to Republic, Washington where the collecting site is located. [1] In addition to Rhus republicensis Flynn et al also provided descriptions of the coeval species Rhus boothillensis and Rhus garwellii and gave a redescription of Rhus malloryi in the 2019 paper. They noted that the Klondike Mountain Formation preserves a number of Rhus specimens which appear to be hybrids of the named species. [1]

Description

Rhus republicensis leaves are pinnately compound on a 16.5 cm (6.5 in) long petiole, with a possible total length of 20 cm (7.9 in)for full leaves. The subopposite leaflets are sessile on the 10.5 cm (4.1 in) rachis between the flared wings that bracket the 1.1 mm (0.043 in) midvein. The 1.8–5.7 cm (0.71–2.24 in) leaflets are obovoid to ovoid in outline, tapering from the wide middle to both the base and apex. They have a width of 0.7–2.5 cm (0.28–0.98 in) and a length to width ratio of up to 3.1∶1. The midveins of the leaflets are narrow and pass all the way to the leaflet apex, with smaller secondary veins branching off the midvein at acute angles. The narrow secondaries are spaced on the midvein unevenly and group closer together near the leaflet tip, while usually branching once near the leaflet margin. The branches of the secondaries enter a tooth or the sinus between two teeth. The teeth are rounded on their tips with convex basal and apical sides running towards variable sinuses. The teeth become more developed and closer spaced towards the tip of the leaflet. The leafy wings of the rachis have secondary veins that angle steeply towards the leaf tip and occasionally forking. [1]

Related Research Articles

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Sumac Related species of plants in the family Anacardiaceae

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<i>Fothergilla</i> genus of plants

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<i>Rhus glabra</i> species of plant

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<i>Trochodendron nastae</i> extinct species of flowing plant in the Eudicots clade

Trochodendron nastae is an extinct species of flowering plant in the family Trochodendraceae known from fossil leaves found in the early Eocene Ypresian stage Klondike Mountain Formation deposits of northern Washington state. T. nastae is one of the oldest members of the genus Trochodendron, which includes the living species T. aralioides, native to Japan, southern Korea and Taiwan and the coeval extinct species T. drachukii from the McAbee Fossil Beds near Cache Creek, British Columbia.

<i>Dillhoffia</i> genus of plants (fossil)

Dillhoffia is an extinct monotypic genus of flowering plant with a single species, Dillhoffia cachensis known from Ypresian age Eocene fossils found in British Columbia, Canada, and Washington, USA. The genus and species were described from fifteen specimens found in an unnamed formation belonging to the Kamloops group shales; and two specimens from the Klondike Mountain Formation. The unnamed formation outcrops at the McAbee Fossil Beds near Cache Creek, BC, which is designated the type locality while the two U.S. specimens were recovered from the Tom Thumb Tuff member of the Klondike Mountain Formation in Republic, Washington. It is of interest to note that of the Okanagan highlands fossil sites Dillhoffia is only known from two locations, and is absent or has not been identified from the others.

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.

Neoephemera antiqua is an extinct species of mayfly in the family Neoephemeridae that is known from early Eocene, Ypresian stage, lake deposits near the small community of Republic in Ferry County, Washington, USA.

Klondike Mountain Formation

The Klondike Mountain Formation is an Early Eocene (Ypresian) geological formation located in the northeast central area of Washington State. The formation, named for the type location designated in 1962, Klondike Mountain north of Republic, Washington, is composed of volcanic rocks in the upper unit and volcanics plus lacustrine (lakebed) sedimentation in which a lagerstätte with exceptionally well-preserved plant and insect fossils has been found, along with fossil epithermal hot springs.

<i>Fothergilla malloryi</i> species of plant

Fothergilla malloryi is an extinct species of flowering plant in the family Hamamelidaceae known from fossil leaves found in the early Eocene Klondike Mountain Formation deposits of northern Washington state. The F. malloryi leaves are the earliest appearance in the fossil record of a member of the witchalder genus Fothergilla, which includes the living species F. gardenii, and F. major, both of which are native to the southeastern United States. The genus also includes three or four other fossil species with two Asian Miocene species, F. viburnifolia from China, F. ryozenensis from Japan along with one Miocene North American species, F. praeolata of Oregon. Fothergilla durhamensis described from Eocene sediments in King County, Washington is considered dubious in placement.

Corylopsis reedae is an extinct species of flowering plant in the family Hamamelidaceae known from fossil leaves found in the early Eocene Klondike Mountain Formation deposits of northern Washington state. C. readae is one of the oldest occurrences of the winter-hazel genus Corylopsis, which includes between seven and thirty species, all found in Asia. Fossils from two other occurrences are of similar age to C. readae, with Paleocene specimens from Greenland being placed in the form taxon Corylopsiphyllum and an Eocene Alaskan fossil being included in Corylopsis without species placement.

<i>Orontium wolfei</i> species of plant

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The Allenby formation is a sedimentary rock formation deposited during the early to early Middle Eocene. It consists of conglomerates, sandstones with interbedded with shales and coal. The coal seams contain an abundance of insect, fish and plant fossils, known from the shales since 1877 but best known from the Princeton Chert.

<i>Rhus malloryi</i> species of plant

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.

Rhus rooseae is an extinct species of flowering plants in the sumac family, Anacardiaceae, solely known from the middle Eocene sediments exposed in north central Oregon. The species was first described from a series of isolated fossil seeds in chert.

<i>Tsukada davidiifolia</i> Extinct species of plant

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.

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<i>Nuphar carlquistii</i>

Nuphar carlquistii is an extinct species of flowering plant in the family Nymphaeaceae related to the modern spatterdock, Nuphar advena. The species is known from fossil seeds and fruits found in the early Eocene deposits of northern Washington State, United States, and a similar aged formation in British Columbia, Canada.

<i>Betula leopoldae</i> species of plant

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.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Flynn, S.; DeVore, M. L.; Pigg, K. B. (2019). "Morphological Features of Sumac Leaves (Rhus, Anacardiaceae), from the Latest Early Eocene Flora of Republic, Washington". International Journal of Plant Sciences . 180 (6). doi:10.1086/703526.
  2. 1 2 3 Moss, P. T.; Greenwood, D. R.; Archibald, S. B. (2005). "Regional and local vegetation community dynamics of the Eocene Okanagan Highlands (British Columbia – Washington State) from palynology" (PDF). Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences . 42 (2): 187–204. doi:10.1139/E04-095.
  3. Wolfe, J.A.; Tanai, T. (1987). "Systematics, Phylogeny, and Distribution of Acer (maples) in the Cenozoic of Western North America". Journal of the Faculty of Science, Hokkaido University. Series 4, Geology and mineralogy. 22 (1): 1–246. hdl:2115/36747. Lock-green.svg
  4. Wolfe, J.A.; Wehr, W.C. (1987). "Middle Eocene dicotyledonous plants from Republic, northeastern Washington". United States Geological Survey Bulletin. 1597: 1–25. doi: 10.3133/b1597 .