Nicholsia E.M.FRIIS, P.R.CRANE et K.R.PEDERSEN, 2019

Friis, Else Marie, Crane, Peter R. & Pedersen, Kaj Raunsgaard, 2019, The Early Cretaceous Mesofossil Flora Of Torres Vedras (Ne Of Forte Da Forca), Portugal: A Palaeofloristic Analysis Of An Early Angiosperm Community, Fossil Imprint 75 (2), pp. 153-257 : 236

Genus Nicholsia E.M.FRIIS, P.R.CRANE et K.R.PEDERSEN gen. nov.

T y p e. Designated here. Nicholsia brevicolpites

E.M.FRIIS, P.R.CRANE et K.R.PEDERSEN gen. et sp. nov.

P l a n t F o s s i l N a m e s R e g i s t r y N u m b e r.

PFN000497 (for new genus).

E t y m o l o g y. In honor of the American palynologist Douglas J. Nichols in recognition of his important contributions to the study of Cretaceous angiosperms.

D i a g n o s i s. Pollen small, prolate, tricolpate. Colpi short. Tectum foveolate to microreticulate. Perforations rounded and of even size over the main body of the grains. Colpus margin indistinct. Colpus membrane verrucate.

C o m m e n t s o n t h e g e n u s. Pollen grains of Nicholsia are distinguished from that of Mcdougallia in the even size and distribution of the perforations in the tectum and the shorter colpi. Pollen grains of Nicholsia are distinguished from pollen of Samylinaea in the larger size of the perforations and shorter colpi.