An early Eocene florule from central Texas

1925 ◽  
pp. 87-92
Author(s):  
Edward Wilber Berry
Keyword(s):  
Author(s):  
David H. Sturm ◽  
Bob F. Perkins

Each of the seven families of rudists (Mollusca, Bivalvia, Hippuritacea) is characterized by distinctive shell-wall architectures which reflect phylogenetic relationships within the superfamily. Analysis of the complex, calcareous, cellular wall of the attached valve of the radiolite rudist Eoradiolites davidsoni (Hill) from the Comanche Cretaceous of Central Texas indicates that its wall architecture is an elaboration of the simpler monopleurid rudist wall and supports possible radiolite-monopleurid relationships.Several well-preserved specimens of E. davidsoni were sectioned, polished, etched, and carbon and gold coated for SEM examination. Maximum shell microstructure detail was displayed by etching with a 0.7% HC1 solution from 80 to 100 seconds.The shell of E. davidsoni comprises a large, thick-walled, conical, attached valve (AV) and a small, very thin, operculate, free valve (FV) (Fig. 1a). The AV shell is two-layered with a thin inner wall, in which original structures are usually obliterated by recrystallization, and a thick, cellular, outer wall.


2020 ◽  
Vol 45 (3) ◽  
pp. 478-482
Author(s):  
Steven R. Manchester

Abstract—The type material on which the fossil genus name Ampelocissites was established in 1929 has been reexamined with the aid of X-ray micro-computed tomography (μ-CT) scanning and compared with seeds of extant taxa to assess the relationships of these fossils within the grape family, Vitaceae. The specimens were collected from a sandstone of late Paleocene or early Eocene age. Although originally inferred by Berry to be intermediate in morphology between Ampelocissus and Vitis, the newly revealed details of seed morphology indicate that these seeds represent instead the Ampelopsis clade. Digital cross sections show that the seed coat maintains its thickness over the external surfaces, but diminishes quickly in the ventral infolds. This feature, along with the elliptical chalaza and lack of an apical groove, indicate that Ampelocissites lytlensis Berry probably represents Ampelopsis or Nekemias (rather than Ampelocissus or Vitis) and that the generic name Ampelocissites may be useful for fossil seeds with morphology consistent with the Ampelopsis clade that lack sufficient characters to specify placement within one of these extant genera.


Circular ◽  
2000 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter W. Bush ◽  
Ann F. Ardis ◽  
Lynne Fahlquist ◽  
Patricia B. Ging ◽  
C. Evan Hornig ◽  
...  

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