Bertilanthus E.M.Friis et K.R.Pedersen

Plant Fossil Names Registry Number: PFN002566

Act LSID: urn:lsid:plantfossilnames.org:act:2566

Authors: E. M. Friis & K. R. Pedersen

Rank: genus

Reference: Friis, E. M. & Pedersen, K. R. (2012): Bertilanthus scanicus, a new asterid flower from the Late Cretaceous (Late Santonian–Early Campanian) of Scania, Sweden. – International Journal of Plant Sciences 173(3): 318–330.

Page of description: 320

Type

Original diagnosis/description

Flowers small, pedicellate, perfect, and actinomorphic; floral parts whorled; perianth and androecium pentamerous, epigynous. Calyx of five free sepals, not covering the corolla in bud; corolla of five free petals. Androecium of five stamens in one whorl, opposite the petals. Anthers dithecate, tetrasporangiate, dorsifixed, sagittate. Pollen minute, oblate to spheroidal, tricolpate, and tectate-punctate. Gynoecium syncarpous formed from two carpels; styles free, stout; apex of styles truncate. Ovary inferior and unilocular with numerous ovules per carpel. Placentation parietal. Ovules anatropous. Nectary with five conspicuous antisepalous lobes. Bertilanthus is most similar to the fossil genus Silvianthemum Friis and is distinguished mainly by having five stamens (eight in Silvianthemum), tricolpate pollen (tri- or tetracolpate in Silvianthemum), distinct five-parted nectary (nonparted in Silvianthemum), two carpels (three in Silvianthemum), placental region not extending into the free stylar region (extending to free stylar region in Silvianthemum).

Etymology

In honor of Bertil Jansson, director of the Swedish Museum of Natural History (1987–1992), for encouragement and support.