Searching for early angiosperms is a riveting activity in botany because it helps to resolve the phyiogenetic relationships among seed plants and among angiosperms themselves. One of the challenges for this job is wha...Searching for early angiosperms is a riveting activity in botany because it helps to resolve the phyiogenetic relationships among seed plants and among angiosperms themselves. One of the challenges for this job is what the target fossils look like. Most possibly early angiosperms may elude our scrutiny with gymnospermous appearances. This possibility becomes a reality in a Jurassic plant, Solaranthus gen. nov, which bears a peltaspermalean appearance and enclosed ovules. According to knowledge available hitherto, the latter feature makes it an angiosperm. However, such a feature is more likely to be eclipsed by its gymnospermous appearance. The early age and unexpected character assemblage of Solaranthus urge for a fresh look on the assumed-simple relationship between angiosperms and gymnosperms. Its resemblance to the order Peltaspermales favors the Mostly Male Theory.展开更多
A new genus of fossil Cycads, Yixianophyllum gen. nov., is reported here. The specimens were collected from the southern hill of Jinjiagou village, Toudaohezi Town, Yixian County, western Liaoning Province, China. The...A new genus of fossil Cycads, Yixianophyllum gen. nov., is reported here. The specimens were collected from the southern hill of Jinjiagou village, Toudaohezi Town, Yixian County, western Liaoning Province, China. The fossil plant-beating bed belongs to the lower part, the Zhuanchengzi bed, of the Upper Jurassic Yixian Formation （Yixianian）. The new genus in leaf shape, venation and epidermal structure shows a transitional form between Mesozoic Cycads （Ctenis, Nilssonia） and modem Cycads （Stangeria and Encephalartos）. Since the features of these specimens differ from any known genera of Cycads, a new generic name Yixianophyllum is proposed for these leaves. Typical species, Yixianophyllum jinjiagouense gen. et sp. nov. is described here. A supposed evolutionary tendency of Cycadean leaf-forms with Taeniopteris-type is discussed.展开更多
Recently,more attention has been paid to Glossopteris,the most significant representative fossil of the Gondwanan Supercontinent in the Paleozoic.It has been regarded as an important clade of Angiophytes on the basis ...Recently,more attention has been paid to Glossopteris,the most significant representative fossil of the Gondwanan Supercontinent in the Paleozoic.It has been regarded as an important clade of Angiophytes on the basis of its reproductive organ related to Angiosperms.Since Brongniart erected Glossopteris in 1928,reliable Glossopterids attached by fertile organs were only collected from the Permian Gondwanaland.Here,the authors found a new element of Glossoptetids,Sinoglossa sunii gen et sp.nov.,with attached female organs from the Middle Triassic Linjia Formation in Benxi,Northeast China.This demonstrates that Glossoptetids not only distributed in South Hemisphere,but also in North Hemisphere,and successfully survived the end-Permian mass extinction in North Hemisphere.The distinguished environment in Northeast China influenced by both warm and cold currents,probably resulted in the Paleozoic relic elements,such as Glossopterids associated with Lobatannularia successfully survived the end-Permian mass extinction.展开更多
A new species Lepidopteris baodensis sp.nov.belonging to the family Peltaspermaceae and represented by two ultimate pinnae in the collection under study,was recently discovered at the Baijiagou of Baode,Shanxi,China,f...A new species Lepidopteris baodensis sp.nov.belonging to the family Peltaspermaceae and represented by two ultimate pinnae in the collection under study,was recently discovered at the Baijiagou of Baode,Shanxi,China,from the Upper Permian Sunjiagou Formation.The lower surface of the ultimate rachis,the midrib and secondary veins is covered with triangular,trapezoid,rounded,or ligulate subepidermal swellings,which show different natures from intercalary pinnules.Lepidopteris is one of typical elements of the Late Permian Euramerican flora.Since Schimper erected the genus Lepidopteris in 1869,the entire epidermal structure of subepidermal swellings had been unclear.The new species L.baodensis clearly showing the distinguished epidermal structure of subepidermal swellings,not only enlarges and supplements our knowledge in biology and taxonomy of Lepidopteris as well as the Upper Permian stratigraphy of China,but also provides an opportunity to understand the relationship between Euramerican floras and Cathaysian floras in paleoclimatic,paleoenvironmental and paleogeographic context.展开更多
A well-preserved permineralized osmundaceous fern was discovered from the Middle Jurassic Tiaojishan Formation of Beipiao,Liaoning Province,China.The rhizome is about 50 cm high and 35-41 cm in diameter and can be att...A well-preserved permineralized osmundaceous fern was discovered from the Middle Jurassic Tiaojishan Formation of Beipiao,Liaoning Province,China.The rhizome is about 50 cm high and 35-41 cm in diameter and can be attributed to the genus Ashicaulis on the basis of its anatomy.The sterile pinnae are referable to Cladophlebis,the fertile pinnules are of the Todites type with in situ spores of the Osmundacidites type.Osmundaceous rhizomes have been found all over the world including the Jurassic strata of western Liaoning,China.Until now,however,no rhizomes have been reported to be organically connected with leafy organs.Although impressions and compressions of isolated osmundaceous sterile and fertile fronds are common,they were described under separate organ-or morpho-generic names,such as Todites and Cladophlebis.The new discovery provides an opportunity to study an osmundaceous fern in 'whole plant concept' to learn more about its morphology and structure,and the pa-leoclimatic and paleoenvironmental requrirements of this group.展开更多
The genus Sciadopitys, containing a single species (S. verticillata), is the only extant representative of the Family Sciadopityaceae (Coniferales), and is a remarkable living fossil. Although some leafy fossils have ...The genus Sciadopitys, containing a single species (S. verticillata), is the only extant representative of the Family Sciadopityaceae (Coniferales), and is a remarkable living fossil. Although some leafy fossils have been ascribed to Sciadopityaceae, fossil xylem material with a close affinity to this family is very rare, and there have been no fossils found showing both pith and primary xylem structures, which are of great importance for wood identification. Thus, it has been difficult to use fossils for the understanding of wood anatomy evolution in the sciadopityaceous plants over geological time. In this note we briefly report on Sciadopitys-like fossil wood found in the Middle Jurassic of western Liaoning, which bears well-preserved Protosciadopityoxylon-type secondary xylem, endarch primary xylem and heterogeneous pith. This is the first report of fossil specimens of the Sciadopityaceae with such detailed preservation of wood structures. The discovery provides precise anatomical evidence for reconstructing the evolu- tionary history and geographical distribution of Sciadopityaceae, as well as contributing to understanding of the fossil diversity of the Jurassic Yanliao Flora in northern China.展开更多
A recently discovered megafossil of whole plant cycad is briefly reported here. The specimen is collected from the Yangcaogou Formation (Upper Triassic) in Changheying, Beipiao, Liaoning. The whole plant is preserved ...A recently discovered megafossil of whole plant cycad is briefly reported here. The specimen is collected from the Yangcaogou Formation (Upper Triassic) in Changheying, Beipiao, Liaoning. The whole plant is preserved intact on a sandstone slab, 89 cm long and 130 cm wide, including leaves up to 82 cm long and a male cone physically attached to the stem apex. Analysis on the morphology, arrangement and venation of leaf and pinna, male cone and its relationship with other parts indicates that the fossil is closely related to living Zamiaceae in Cycadales. This cycad fossil is hitherto most completely preserved cycad specimen including both vegetative and reproductive organs. Its discovery contributes much to our understanding of the morphology and evolution of cycads, palaeoclimate as well as palaeoenvironment.展开更多
基金supported by NSFC Programs (No.40772006,40372008,40632010 and J0630967)the Scientific Research Foundation for the Returned Overseas Chinese Scholars,State Education Ministry
文摘Searching for early angiosperms is a riveting activity in botany because it helps to resolve the phyiogenetic relationships among seed plants and among angiosperms themselves. One of the challenges for this job is what the target fossils look like. Most possibly early angiosperms may elude our scrutiny with gymnospermous appearances. This possibility becomes a reality in a Jurassic plant, Solaranthus gen. nov, which bears a peltaspermalean appearance and enclosed ovules. According to knowledge available hitherto, the latter feature makes it an angiosperm. However, such a feature is more likely to be eclipsed by its gymnospermous appearance. The early age and unexpected character assemblage of Solaranthus urge for a fresh look on the assumed-simple relationship between angiosperms and gymnosperms. Its resemblance to the order Peltaspermales favors the Mostly Male Theory.
文摘A new genus of fossil Cycads, Yixianophyllum gen. nov., is reported here. The specimens were collected from the southern hill of Jinjiagou village, Toudaohezi Town, Yixian County, western Liaoning Province, China. The fossil plant-beating bed belongs to the lower part, the Zhuanchengzi bed, of the Upper Jurassic Yixian Formation （Yixianian）. The new genus in leaf shape, venation and epidermal structure shows a transitional form between Mesozoic Cycads （Ctenis, Nilssonia） and modem Cycads （Stangeria and Encephalartos）. Since the features of these specimens differ from any known genera of Cycads, a new generic name Yixianophyllum is proposed for these leaves. Typical species, Yixianophyllum jinjiagouense gen. et sp. nov. is described here. A supposed evolutionary tendency of Cycadean leaf-forms with Taeniopteris-type is discussed.
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.31470324),the Strategic Priority Program(B)of CAS(No.XDB18000000,XDB 26000000).
文摘Recently,more attention has been paid to Glossopteris,the most significant representative fossil of the Gondwanan Supercontinent in the Paleozoic.It has been regarded as an important clade of Angiophytes on the basis of its reproductive organ related to Angiosperms.Since Brongniart erected Glossopteris in 1928,reliable Glossopterids attached by fertile organs were only collected from the Permian Gondwanaland.Here,the authors found a new element of Glossoptetids,Sinoglossa sunii gen et sp.nov.,with attached female organs from the Middle Triassic Linjia Formation in Benxi,Northeast China.This demonstrates that Glossoptetids not only distributed in South Hemisphere,but also in North Hemisphere,and successfully survived the end-Permian mass extinction in North Hemisphere.The distinguished environment in Northeast China influenced by both warm and cold currents,probably resulted in the Paleozoic relic elements,such as Glossopterids associated with Lobatannularia successfully survived the end-Permian mass extinction.
基金This study was supported by the Knowledge Innovation Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(Grant No.KZCX-2-SW-129)the National Basic Research Program of China(2006CB701400)+2 种基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.40472004,39900007 and 40372008)the JSPS Grant-in-Aid for Science Research of Japan(Type C)(Grant No.13640475)This is a contribution to Intermational Geoscience Program IGCP Project No.506.
基金supported by the Project 111 of China(B06008)the Scientific Research Operating Expenses,Jilin University-the Base Platform Construction Project,the National Natural Science Foundation of China (40972001)RFBR No.11-05-92692-Ind_a
文摘A new species Lepidopteris baodensis sp.nov.belonging to the family Peltaspermaceae and represented by two ultimate pinnae in the collection under study,was recently discovered at the Baijiagou of Baode,Shanxi,China,from the Upper Permian Sunjiagou Formation.The lower surface of the ultimate rachis,the midrib and secondary veins is covered with triangular,trapezoid,rounded,or ligulate subepidermal swellings,which show different natures from intercalary pinnules.Lepidopteris is one of typical elements of the Late Permian Euramerican flora.Since Schimper erected the genus Lepidopteris in 1869,the entire epidermal structure of subepidermal swellings had been unclear.The new species L.baodensis clearly showing the distinguished epidermal structure of subepidermal swellings,not only enlarges and supplements our knowledge in biology and taxonomy of Lepidopteris as well as the Upper Permian stratigraphy of China,but also provides an opportunity to understand the relationship between Euramerican floras and Cathaysian floras in paleoclimatic,paleoenvironmental and paleogeographic context.
基金supported by the Knowledge Innovation Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences,(KZCX2-YW-154)the National Basic Research Program of China(2006CB701400)
文摘A well-preserved permineralized osmundaceous fern was discovered from the Middle Jurassic Tiaojishan Formation of Beipiao,Liaoning Province,China.The rhizome is about 50 cm high and 35-41 cm in diameter and can be attributed to the genus Ashicaulis on the basis of its anatomy.The sterile pinnae are referable to Cladophlebis,the fertile pinnules are of the Todites type with in situ spores of the Osmundacidites type.Osmundaceous rhizomes have been found all over the world including the Jurassic strata of western Liaoning,China.Until now,however,no rhizomes have been reported to be organically connected with leafy organs.Although impressions and compressions of isolated osmundaceous sterile and fertile fronds are common,they were described under separate organ-or morpho-generic names,such as Todites and Cladophlebis.The new discovery provides an opportunity to study an osmundaceous fern in 'whole plant concept' to learn more about its morphology and structure,and the pa-leoclimatic and paleoenvironmental requrirements of this group.
基金supported by the Knowledge Innovation Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences(KZCX-2-YW-154)the National Basic Research Program of China(2012CB822000 and 2006CB701401)+1 种基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China (40972008, 40472004 and J0930006)UNESCO-IUGS Project IGCP 506
文摘The genus Sciadopitys, containing a single species (S. verticillata), is the only extant representative of the Family Sciadopityaceae (Coniferales), and is a remarkable living fossil. Although some leafy fossils have been ascribed to Sciadopityaceae, fossil xylem material with a close affinity to this family is very rare, and there have been no fossils found showing both pith and primary xylem structures, which are of great importance for wood identification. Thus, it has been difficult to use fossils for the understanding of wood anatomy evolution in the sciadopityaceous plants over geological time. In this note we briefly report on Sciadopitys-like fossil wood found in the Middle Jurassic of western Liaoning, which bears well-preserved Protosciadopityoxylon-type secondary xylem, endarch primary xylem and heterogeneous pith. This is the first report of fossil specimens of the Sciadopityaceae with such detailed preservation of wood structures. The discovery provides precise anatomical evidence for reconstructing the evolu- tionary history and geographical distribution of Sciadopityaceae, as well as contributing to understanding of the fossil diversity of the Jurassic Yanliao Flora in northern China.
基金Supported by the National Natursl Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 40772006, 40372008, 40632010 and J0630967)Knowledge Innovation Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (Grant No. KZCX2-YW-154)National Basic Research Program of China (Grant No. 2006CB701401)
文摘A recently discovered megafossil of whole plant cycad is briefly reported here. The specimen is collected from the Yangcaogou Formation (Upper Triassic) in Changheying, Beipiao, Liaoning. The whole plant is preserved intact on a sandstone slab, 89 cm long and 130 cm wide, including leaves up to 82 cm long and a male cone physically attached to the stem apex. Analysis on the morphology, arrangement and venation of leaf and pinna, male cone and its relationship with other parts indicates that the fossil is closely related to living Zamiaceae in Cycadales. This cycad fossil is hitherto most completely preserved cycad specimen including both vegetative and reproductive organs. Its discovery contributes much to our understanding of the morphology and evolution of cycads, palaeoclimate as well as palaeoenvironment.
