Raunsgaardispermum lusitanicum M.M.Mendes, Pais et E.M.Friis

Plant Fossil Names Registry Number: PFN002002

Act LSID: urn:lsid:plantfossilnames.org:act:2002

Authors: M. M. Mendes, J. Pais & E. M. Friis

Rank: species

Genus: Raunsgaardispermum M.M.Mendes, Pais et E.M.Friis

Reference: Mendes, M. M., Pais, J. & Friis, E. M. (2008): Raunsgaardispermum lusitanicum gen. et sp. nov., a new seed with in situ pollen from the Early Cretaceous (probably Berriasian) of Portugal: Further support for the Bennettitales-Erdtmanithecales- Gnetales link. – Grana 47(3): 211–219.

Page of description: 213

Illustrations or figures: figs 1–3

Name is type for

Raunsgaardispermum M.M.Mendes, Pais et E.M.Friis 2008

Types

Holotype P0001, Earth Sciences Department, Technology and Sciences College, New University of Lisbon, Portugal
Figures: figs 1A, 2C, D, 3B

Note: Holotype from the Juncal – Vale Painho clay pit, sample 57.

Paratypes: P0002, P0005, P0006, P0007, P0010, P0011, P0012, P0013, P0014, P0015, P0016, P0017, P0018, P0075 (Juncal – Vale Painho clay pit, sample 57), P0003, P0004, P0019, P0020, P0021, P0022, P0076 (Juncal – Vale Painho clay pit, sample 58), P0024, P0025, P0026, P0027, P0077 (Juncal – Vale Painho clay pit, sample 59), P0008, P0009, P0078 (Juncal – Vale Painho clay pit, sample 60), P0079 (Juncal – Vale Painho clay pit, sample 61).

Original diagnosis/description

Small and bisymmetrical seeds, ovoid to broadly fusiform in lateral view and circular to broadly elliptical in apical view. Thin integument, apically extended into a narrow micropylar tube. Integument completely enclosed in a bipartite outer envelope, except for the micropylar opening. Outer envelope sclerenchymatous with distinct vascular bundles extending from base to apex. Apical papillae line the inner surface of seed envelope. In situ pollen grains monocolpate, tectate and psilate to punctate.
Vascular bundles of outer envelope form narrow ridges on the seed surface. On each valve one central bundle and two lateral bundles are present near the base; lateral bundles dichotomise two, rarely three times, resulting in about seven bundles on each valve near the apex. Sclerenchyma cells of outer envelope narrowly rectangular and longitudinally aligned. Outer epidermis thin, consisting of small equiaxial cells.

Etymology

The specific epithet
lusitanicum is derived from Lusitânia, name of the imperial Roman province (covering the central part of Portugal) where the fossils were collected.

Stratigraphy

Cretaceous, Lower Cretaceous
uppermost part of Bombarral formation (probably Berriasian)

Locality

Portugal
Juncal – Vale Painho opencast clay pit complex, Estremadura region, western Portugal (39° 35′ 27.4″ N, 08° 54′ 09.2″ W)

Plant fossil remain

macro- and meso-fossils-embryophytes except wood

Comments

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