Wireroadia major (Hollick) Xiao Q.Zhang, Y.D.Wang, Dilcher et Manchester

Plant Fossil Names Registry Number: PFN001136

Act LSID: urn:lsid:plantfossilnames.org:act:1136

Authors: X. Zhang, Y. Wang, D. L. Dilcher & S. R. Manchester

Rank: species

Basionym: Tricalycites major Hollick

Genus: Wireroadia Xiao Q.Zhang, Y.D.Wang, Dilcher et Manchester

Reference: Zhang, X., Wang, Y., Dilcher, D. L. & Manchester, S. R. (2020): Wireroadia, A new genus of winged fruit from the Cretaceous of Alabama and New England, USA. – International Journal of Plant Sciences 181(9): 898–910.

Types

Original diagnosis/description

Organism normally consisting of three entire, oblong-spatulate wings or appendages, tri-palmately arranged and attached to a common nucleus by their bases, finely and closely striated longitudinally, middle one usually the largest, about 4 cm. long by 1.3 cm. broad.
These well-defined organisms are evidently generically identical with those described by Newberry under the name Tricalycites papyraceus (Fl. Amboy Clays, I. c. 132. pl. 46, f. 30–38), and they merely differ in their larger size. In some specimens, as indicated in figs. 5 and 6, the appendages appear as if confluent at their bases, which is probably due to overlapping, and doubtless these specimens, if perfect, would present the appearance of three-lobed samarae.

Emended diagnosis

Zhang et al. (2020: Int. J. Pl. Sci., 181(9): 903):
Fruit with three oblong-spatulate wings arising from a globose body on a stout pedicel. The fruit relatively large (dimensions below) and seemingly with smooth surface (observed surface might be smooth surface of locule cast rather than endocarp surface). Middle wing shorter and narrower than the other two lateral wings. Wings diverging from each other at angles less than 20°. Fine, subparallel venation diverging from the base of each wing, forking, and anastomosing, ultimately ending in the rounded distal margins of the wings. Epidermal cells irregularly polygonal with straight anticlinal walls. Stomata mostly confined to the lower surface, paracytic type, and encircled by a ring of radially arranged cells.

Stratigraphy

Cretaceous, Upper Cretaceous
Magothy Formation, Santonian [according to Zhang et al. 2020: Int. J. Pl. Sci., 181(9): 902]

Cretaceous shale [in Hollick 1904: Bull. New York Bot. Gard., 3: 417]

Locality

United States
Nashaquitsa, Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts [according to Zhang et al. 2020: Int. J. Pl. Sci., 181(9): 902]

Glen Cove, Long Insland, New York [in Hollick 1904: Bull. New York Bot. Gard., 3: 417]