Saportanthus E.M.Friis, P.R.Crane et K.R.Pedersen

Plant Fossil Names Registry Number: PFN002005

Act LSID: urn:lsid:plantfossilnames.org:act:2005

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

Rank: genus

Reference: Friis, E. M., Crane, P. R. & Pedersen, K. R. (2017): Saportanthus, an extinct genus of Laurales from the Early Cretaceous of Portugal. – International Journal of Plant Sciences 178(8): 650–672.

Page of description: 651

Type

Original diagnosis/description

Flower small, actinomorphic, structurally bisexual with a semi-inferior ovary. Phyllotaxis of tepals and stamens apparently spiral. Perianth with six to eight tepals, tepal bases broad. Androecium of five to 15 stamens with almost sessile, basifixed anthers. Anthers dithecate and tetrasporangiate; thecae separated by a broad connective; dehiscence latrorse to extrorse by four laterally hinged valves that extend for the full length of the anther. Pollen circular in polar view; trichotomocolpate or dicolpate; pollen wall thin, tectate with thin granular infratectal layer. Tectum ornamentation finely striate proximally with delicate ridges forming a fingerprint-like pattern; psilate-punctate distally around the aperture(s). Gynoecium syncarpous, of one to three carpels; ovary with one to three locules. One ovule per carpel, apical and pendulous; ovules anatropous, small, not filling the ovary cavity. Inner lining of ovary wall (endocarp) with several layers of narrow, longitudinally aligned sclerenchyma cells. Stylar area conical with two or three short styles. Fruit indehiscent, drupaceous; seeds one to three; seed coat thin with a finely reticulate surface.

Etymology

In honor of the French paleobotanist Gaston de Saporta (1823–1895), in recognition of his pioneering studies of the Mesozoic floras of Portugal.