Powhatania Balthazar, P.R.Crane, K.R.Pedersen et E.M.Friis

Plant Fossil Names Registry Number: PFN002011

Act LSID: urn:lsid:plantfossilnames.org:act:2011

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

Rank: genus

Reference: von Balthazar, M., Crane, P. R., Pedersen, K. R. & Friis, E. M. (2011): New flowers of Laurales from the Early Cretaceous (Early to Middle Albian) of eastern North America. in Wanntorp, L., Ronse De Craene, L. P. (eds): Flowers on the Tree of Life. Cambridge University Press: 49–87.

Page of description: 58

Type

Original diagnosis/description

Flowers small (presumed actinomor phic). Perianth of three broad outer tepals and at least three narrow inner tepals (details of their arrangement unclear). Androecium of at least three stamens or staminodes (only filaments/filament bases preserved) and six stalked nectariferous structures. Arrangement of androecial organs in groups of three with the central filament base opposite each outer perianth organ, flanked by two associated stalked nectariferous structures. Filaments and nectariferous structures fused to the perianth base. Stamens with long and thin filaments (anthers not preserved). Nectariferous structures with short stalks and a peltate or semi-peltate head.

Etymology

From the native American name ‘Powhatan’ for the James River in Virginia, USA, to which watershed the Appomattox River with the Puddledock locality belongs.