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FLORA OF THE BRANDON LIGNITE. IV. ILLICIACEAE
Author(s) -
Tiffney Bruce H.,
Barghoorn Elso S.
Publication year - 1979
Publication title -
american journal of botany
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.218
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1537-2197
pISSN - 0002-9122
DOI - 10.1002/j.1537-2197.1979.tb06230.x
Subject(s) - perianth , pedicel , biology , gynoecium , whorl (mollusc) , botany , cycad , scars , flora (microbiology) , stamen , genus , paleontology , pollen , medicine , surgery , bacteria
Illicium avitum is described from the Early Oligocene Brandon Lignite of Vermont. The remains consist of immature fruiting axes, preserved shortly after fertilization. The short pedicel terminates in a torus bearing 13 conduplicate carpels in a single whorl. These are surrounded by two whorls of approximately 20 to 30 staminal scars each, which are in turn surrounded by 24–40 perianth scars. The immature seeds within the carpels possess developing embryos and seed coats. Although comparisons with certain modern species are possible, the available characters are not sufficient to permit its association with any one modern species or group of species. The fossil material provides limited evidence for a reduction in the numbers of floral parts through time in Illicium .