Cunninghamia taylorii

Name

Cunninghamia taylorii

Rank

Species

Generic Name

[Genus] Cunninghamia

Authors (Pub.)

Serbet R. Bomfleur B. Rothwell G. W.  

Publication

Cunninghamia taylorii sp. nov., a structurally preserved cupressaceous conifer from the Upper Cretaceous (Campanian) Horseshoe Canyon Formation of western North America [2013/3]

Journal

International Journal of Plant Sciences

Volume

174

Issue

3

Page number

472

Year

2013

Fossil Status

cones (ovuliferous)

Stratigraphy

Campanian

Strat. comment

Horseshoe Canyon Formation

Location

Nacmine Locality (TMP 93.56), 6 km west of Drumheller on South Dinosaur Trail, UTMG 756031, near Drumheller, Alberta, Canada

Paleoregion

America (North)

Data for Holotypus

Repository

Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology, Drumheller, Canada

Repository Number

TMP 88.232.1436

Num

6D, 6F, 6H, 7C, 7F–7H

Pub.

Cunninghamia taylorii sp. nov., a structurally preserved cupressaceous conifer from the Upper Cretaceous (Campanian) Horseshoe Canyon Formation of western North America [2013/3]

Data for Paratypus

Repository

Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology, Drumheller, Canada

Repository Number

TMP 88.232.57; fig. 5J; TMP 88.232.59, fig. 5G; TMP 88.232.1374, figs. 3F, 4A, 4F, 5F, 5H, 5I; TMP 88.232.1426, fig. 8A–8C; TMP 88.232.1432, figs. 3A, 4C, 5B; TMP 95.154.55, figs. 1B, 1D, 1G, 2E, 2G, 2H, 2L; TMP 95.154.66, fig. 3H; TMP 95.154.106, figs. 1E, 2C, 2J, 2K; TMP 95.154.110, fig. 8D, 8E; TMP 95.154.116, figs. 1A, 1F, 2A, 2D, 2F, 2I.

Num

1A, 1F, 2A, 2D, 2F, 2I

Pub.

Cunninghamia taylorii sp. nov., a structurally preserved cupressaceous conifer from the Upper Cretaceous (Campanian) Horseshoe Canyon Formation of western North America [2013/3]

Diagnosis

Stems with helically arranged, persistent leaf bases; nodes inflated, with branches arranged in pseudowhorls. Stem cortical tissue parenchymatous, interspersed with large and small resin canals, resinous cells, and cavities. Growth rings conspicuous. Secondary xylem with uniseriate circular bordered pitting; rays uniseriate, numerous, up to at least 16 cells high. Secondary xylem without resin canals and resinous cells. Pith parenchymatous with scattered cavities and resinous cells; resin canals absent. Shoots with helically arranged dimorphic leaves with either incurved or straight tips. Adaxial leaf surface with elongate epidermal cells and few stomatal complexes; abaxial surface with two longitudinally oriented stomatal bands. Leaf margins with minute serrations and acute distal tip. Leaves with a single central vein, laterally tapering transfusion tissue, one large abaxial resin canal, and two smaller lateral resin canals near the leaf margins. Ovuliferous cones ovoid, with numerous helically arranged bract scale complexes. Bracts spade shaped, outer margin irregularly laciniate to pectinate; ovuliferous scale fimbriate, with three basally fused lobes, each bearing one adaxially positioned, inverted ovule/seed. Ovule/seed with central body and flattened lateral wings, integument with distinct layering. Pollen cone–bearing shoot apex with numerous pollen cones arranged in pseudowhorl around a vegetative bud; individual cones made up of scale-like leaves.