Glyptostrobus europaeus (Brongniart) Unger

Mantzouka, Dimitra, Sakala, Jakub, Kvaček, Zlatko, Koskeridou, Efterpi & Ioakim, Chryssanthi, 2019, Two fossil conifer species from the Neogene of Alonissos Island (Iliodroma, Greece), Geodiversitas 41 (3), pp. 125-142 : 130-132

Glyptostrobus europaeus (Brongniart) Unger ( Fig. 4 A-F)

Taxodium europaeum Brongniart, 1833: 168 (Iliodroma = Alonissos).

Taxodites europaeus – Endlicher 1847: 278 (Iliodroma = Alonissos).

Glyptostrobus europaeus – Unger 1850: 434 (Iliodroma and others). — Schneider & Velitzelos 1973: 246, pl. 35, fig. 1 (Vegora). — Velitzelos & Schneider 1977: 173, figs 1-3 (Vegora). — Mai & Velitzelos 1997: 510, pl. 4, figs 1-4 (Vegora).

ORIGINAL DIAGNOSIS. — “ Ramis fastigiatis, elongatis, gracilibus: Foliis subtristichis, alternis, brevissimis, basi decurrentibus, apice acutiusculis: Strabilis subglobosis vel ovoideis: Squamis sub octofariis, disco terminali, margine superne armato, crenato, medio crista transversali prominente partito, saliis radiantibus in parte superiore notato ” ( Brongniart 1833: 168-176).

DESCRIPTION

According to the new study of the holotype the following characteristics have been observed: Branched twigs with cupressoid foliage ( Fig. 4A ). No taxodioid foliage was observed. Ripe cone (male) 1.6 cm long and it consists of about 16 elongated imbricated scales ( Fig. 4B ). Branches/ shoots with leaves scale-like, cupressoid type (or even linearsubulate as discussed in Ma et al. 2013) or if one follows the terminology by Vickulin et al. (2003) the leaves are squamate with cupressoid appearance, helically/spirally arranged or even slightly decussate. The leaves are short (leaf length: 1-2 cm and width: 0.5-1 cm) and their apex is not mucronate as in the modern G. pensilis but globose to broadly ovoid/concave ( Fig. 4D, F ). Cones ( Fig. 4C, D ) and perennial branchlets/shoots with cupressoid foliage ( Fig. 4E ) are observed.

DISCUSSION

According to Kvaček et al. (2002), Glyptostrobus in Euboea develops relatively smaller cones and heteromorphic foli- age, which is in contrast to Early Miocene specimens from Central Europe.

Glyptostrobus europaeus represents a species found in several localities in Greece during the Cainozoic. Apart from the findings of this species from Kymi (Euboea Island) and Alonissos Island of Burdigalian age (Early Miocene) and from Vegora ( Macedonia) of Messinian age (Upper Miocene) given in LePage (2007: 393), the geographical distribution of this species in Greece includes additional localities ( Velitzelos et al. 2014), such as Aliveri and Nea Styra (Euboea Island) and Moudros (Lemnos Island) of Burdigalian age, Komnina ( Macedonia), Platana (Western Peloponnese), Prosilio and Lava (Kozani, eastern West Macedonia), Likoudi and Drymos (Elassona, Northern Thessaly) and Iliokomi-Kormitsa (Strymon Basin- Thrace) of Upper Miocene (Messinian) age, Crete (Makrilia) of Middle Tortonian age, Pikermi-Chomateri (Attica) of Tortonian-Messinian age, Ptolemaida (West Macedonia) of Lower Pliocene age, Skoura (Sparti, Laconia) of Pliocene age, Kolymbia (Rhodes) of Pleistocene age.

According to Manchester (1999), Glyptostrobus has a continuous presentation at the fossil floras of Europe from the Palaeocene until the Pliocene/Pleistocene, of North America during Palaeocene, Eocene and Miocene and a constant one from Palaeocene to present in Asia.

Glyptostrobus europaeus taxonomic and biogeographic history started in Canada (Aptian) and is given in detail in LePage (2007). Unfortunately, the assignment of the fossil conifer described in Li et al. (2018) to Glyptostrobus europaeus is considered ambiguous because the sample has seed cones falling into scales, a characteristic not in accordance with any known fossil representative of Glyptostrobus europaeus until now. Recent studies ( Dolezych & van der Burgh 2004) had correlated for the first time Glyptostrobus europaeus with Glyptostroboxylon rudolphii Dolezych & van der Burgh. Numerous information for the “whole-plant” reconstruction of the species providing by the connection between fossil stumps, trunks and twigs of the taxon are also given in Vassio et al. (2008) or by an indirect association of different organs within the same site ( Teodoridis & Sakala 2008).

Glyptostrobus pensilis Koch is the only extant species in its genus inhabited today in SE China, Viet Nam and Lao PDR ( Henry & McIntyre 1926; Farjon & Filer 2013).

Among the newly collected specimens we were able to identify a xylitic remnant with anatomical characteristics resembling a conifer. Its microscopical study is also presented below.

Figures

FIG. 4. — Glyptostrobus europaeus (Brongniart) Unger: A-F, Taxodium europaeum holotype, hosted in the collections of the MNHN (Paris) with the code MNHN.F.1744; A, branched twigs with cupressoid foliage; B, ripe cone (male) 1.6 cm long consisting of about 16 elongated imbricated scales; C, D, cones; D, F, short leaves (length: 1-2 cm; width: 0.5-1 cm) with globose to broadly ovoid/concave apex; E, perennial branchlets / shoots with cupressoid foliage. Scale bars: A, 1 cm; B, C, E, F, 0.2 cm; D, 0.25 cm.