Mauldinia Drinnan, P.R.Crane, E.M.Friis et K.R.Pedersen

Plant Fossil Names Registry Number: PFN001895

Act LSID: urn:lsid:plantfossilnames.org:act:1895

Authors: A. N. Drinnan, P. R. Crane, E. M. Friis & K. R. Pedersen

Rank: genus

Reference: Drinnan, A. N., Crane, P. R., Friis, E. M. & Pedersen, K. R. (1990): Lauraceous flowers from the Potomac Group (mid-Cretaceous) of eastern North America. – Botanical Gazette 151(3): 370–384., link

Page of description: 371

Type

Original diagnosis/description

Compound inflorescences consisting of a central axis bearing spirally arranged lateral units. Lateral units flattened, deeply bilobed and formed from an axial system and associated bracts. Each unit bearing flowers on the adaxial surface. Flowers small, bisexual, actinomorphic, and trimerous. Perianth consisting of six tepals in two whorls. Androecium consisting of nine fertile stamens in three alternating whorls, and an inner fourth alternating whorl of three dorsiventrally flattened staminode-like structures. Additionally, three pairs of staminode-like structures with clavate-sagittate heads are associated with the inner whorl of fertile stamens. Stamens clearly differentiated into filament and anther, dehiscence occurring by two narrowly elliptical valves that are hinged distally. Gynoecium a superior, unilocular carpel with a single anatropous, pendent ovule. Stomata paracytic.

Etymology

From Mauldin Mountain; the type locality.