Symphaenale futabensis Mas.Takah., E.M.Friis et P.R.Crane

Plant Fossil Names Registry Number: PFN002800

Act LSID: urn:lsid:plantfossilnames.org:act:2800

Authors: M. Takahashi, E. M. Friis & P. R. Crane

Rank: species

Genus: Symphaenale Mas.Takah., E.M.Friis et P.R.Crane

Reference: Takahashi, M., Friis, E. M. & Crane, P. R. (2007): Fossil Seeds of Nymphaeales from the Tamayama Formation (Futaba Group), Late Cretaceous (Early Santonian) of Northeastern Honshu, Japan. – International Journal of Plant Sciences 168(3): 341–350.

Page of description: 342

Illustrations or figures: figs 1, 2

Name is type for

Types

Original diagnosis/description

Seeds anatropous and ovoid, sometimes slightly pointed at the micropylar-hilum end. Raphe indistinct from outside, entering the seeds obliquely in a subterminal position and extending for almost the full length of the seed. Hilum separate from, but adjacent to, the micropyle. Micropylar area marked by a distinct plug with a papillate surface. Exotesta composed of columnar sclerenchyma cells with anticlinal walls that are straight toward the inside of the seed, but irregularly folded toward the outside resulting in a jigsaw puzzle-like cell pattern on seed surface. The resulting deeply digitate outer facets of the columnar sclerenchyma each have 9–11 lobes.

Stratigraphy

Cretaceous, Upper Cretaceous, Santonian
Upper part of the Tamayama Formation, Futaba Group, early Santonian (ca. 85 million yr; Gradstein et al. 2004)

Locality

Japan
Gokurakuzawa locality along the Kobisa River in Kobisa, Obisa-machi, Iwaki City, Fukushima Prefecture, northeastern Honshu, Japan (lat. 37°9′N, long. 140°57′E); sample F11 collected along Study Route P of Ando et al. (1995)