Hexagynephilippiana gen. et sp. nov., a piperalean angiosperm from the Early Cretaceous of northern Gondwana (Crato Formation, Brazil). Issue 6 (1st December 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Coiffard, Clément; Mohr, Barbara A.R.; Bernardes-de-Oliveira, Mary E.C.
• Is Part Of: Taxon. Volume 63:Issue 6(2014)
• Page Start: 1275
• Page End: 1286
• Publication Date: 2014-12-01
• Subjects: Early cretaceous -- Fossil piperales -- northern Gondwana -- palaeobiogeography; Plants -- Classification -- Periodicals; 580.12
• DOI: 10.12705/636.17
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0040-0262

Abstract

Abstract: Hexagyne philippiana gen. et sp. nov. represents the first macrofossil piperalean taxon from the Early Cretaceous (Aptian). The fossil material from northern Gondwana consists of a twig with well‐preserved leaves and a characteristic venation pattern plus a twig with attached leaves and several flowers combined in a raceme. The new taxon shares many characters, such as leaf shape and venation pattern, as well as flower morphology, including a clearly developed perianth and six fused carpels, with extant Aristolochiaceae (sensu lato) and/or related clades. Representatives of Aristolochiaceae grow today in Laurasia. The Early Cretaceous finds in South America (Brazil) may indicate a Gondwanan origin of this group. Based on its morphology, Hexagyne gen. nov. might have had an ecology of an understory plant in a shaded environment.