Lindera sp.

Stults, DZ & Axsmith, BJ, 2015, New plant fossil records and paleoclimate analyses of the late Pliocene Citronelle Formation flora, U. S. Gulf Coast, Palaeontologia Electronica (New York, N. Y.: 1991) 2 (6), pp. 1-35 : 12

Lindera sp.

Figure 4.1, 4.5

Description. Lindera is represented by one, simple, petiolate leaf specimen. The blade is obovate, 7.1 cm long and 3.1 cm wide, with a L:W ratio of 2.3:1. The slender petiole is 0.8 cm long. The margin is unlobed and entire. The base is acute, decurrent. The apex is acuminate, without a drip tip, as in modern Lindera . Primary vein framework is pinnate. Secondary venation is brochidodromous, excurrent, irregularly spaced and does not exhibit the arcuate state of Persea . This leaf can also be differentiated from Persea and Magnolia based on its less robust appearance, and thin marginal fimbrial veins (compared to the marginal secondary veins of Persea or Magnolia ). Tertiary venation is irregular reticulate, although the presence of several intersecondary veins renders this determination difficult. Quaternary and quinternary veins are irregular, reticulate.

Site occurrence. Perdido Park.

Remarks. Of the approximately 100 Lindera species, the three North American species occur along streams, mesic woodlands, sandy areas, and swampy areas. Two species, L. melissaefolia and L. subcoriacea have restricted distributions; however, L. benzoin ( Figure 4.2 ) is found throughout eastern North America. American Lindera species diverged from Asian counterparts in the middle Miocene ( Chanderbali et al., 2001; Nie et al., 2007). Lindera has been reported from the Miocene Clarkia flora ( Fields, 1996).

Figures

FIGURE 4. Representative Lauraceae from the Citronelle Formation. 1. Lindera sp. leaf (UF 19210–062072), scale bar equals 1 cm. 2. Extant Lindera leaf from USAM herbarium for comparison with Figure 4.1, scale bar equals 1 cm. 3. Persea sp. leaf (UF 19210–062073), scale bar equals 1 cm. 4. Sassafras albidum leaf (UF 19210–062074), scale bar equals 1 cm. 5. Close-up of Figure 4.1 Lindera leaf showing high order venation, scale bar equals 2.5 mm. 6. Close-up of Figure 4.3 Persea leaf showing high order venation, scale bar equals 2.5 mm.