Aquatifolia cf. fluitans Layers B

Sender, Luis Miguel, Villanueva-Amadoz, Uxue, Diez, Jose Bienvenido, Sanchez-Pellicer, Raquel, Bercovici, Antoine, Pons, Denise & Ferrer, Javier, 2012, A new uppermost Albian flora from Teruel province, northeastern Spain, Geodiversitas 34 (2), pp. 373-397 : 373-397

Aquatifolia cf. fluitans Layers B to D ( Fig. 6B, C )

SPECIMENS. — MPZ 2010/1130 to MPZ 2010/1134 and MPZ 2009/342.

DESCRIPTION

Leaf orbicular to ovate, petiolate. Base cordate. Base angle wide obtuse. Petiole stout with an expanded fusiform float in its lower part. Float length is 60mm long and 17 mm wide in its central part. Leaf blade up to 39 mm long and 45 mm wide (no complete specimens). Margin crenate with tooth type convexconvex.Primary venation basal actinodromous with one medial vein branching up to the margin and four lateral primary veins which fork several times, gradually decreasing in thickness toward the margin. Angle between primary veins 45°. Branches from primary veins join to form polygonal large meshes. Secondary venation apparently craspedodromous.Tertiary and quaternary veins forming small polygonal meshes.

REMARKS

Ŋe unique combination of spherical to fusiform floats and foliar lamina with Nymphaeaceae-like venation together with other characteristics is charateristic for the genus Aquatifolia Wang & Dilcher from the Hoisington III locality, Kansas, USA ( Wang& Dilcher 2006a). Ŋe Spanish fossils are closely similar to the type species Aquatifolia fluitans ( Wang & Dilcher 2006a) , but because leaf margin and endings of veins are not well preserved,we hesitate to include the spanish material in the same species. Currently the genus has only been recovered from the Estercuel outcrop and the Hoisington III locality.

Figures

FIG. 6. — Fertile and sterile structures of aquatic plants:A, floral receptacles of presumable Nelumbonaceae floral receptacle showing internal moulds of achene cavities; B, Aquatifolia cf. fluitans, aquatic plant with foliar lamina, petiole and fusiform float organ at base; C, almost complete lamina of Aquatifolia cf. fluitans showing venation. Scale bars: 1 cm.