Alseodaphne changchangensis sp. nov. (Lauraceae), with a perfectly preserved fossil leaf, was found in the Eocene Changchang Formation from the Changchang Basin of Hainan Island, China. This represents the earliest oc...Alseodaphne changchangensis sp. nov. (Lauraceae), with a perfectly preserved fossil leaf, was found in the Eocene Changchang Formation from the Changchang Basin of Hainan Island, China. This represents the earliest occurrence at the lowest latitude for the genus Alseodaphne, and offers important fossil evidence for further investigation of the origin and evolution of this genus and the paleoclimate of Hainan Island in the Eocene. Based on leaf morphology and cuticle characteristics, our fossil specimen is closest to the living species A. hainanensis Merrill, which is distributed mainly in tropical lowland rain forests, tropical montane rain forests, and subtropical montane evergreen broad-leafed forests on Hainan Island, and also found on the Wanshan Islands of Zhuhai of Guangdong Province and in northern parts of Vietnam. In the above areas, the climate factors are similar, i.e., the mean annual temperature is 20–22.6°C, the mean annual range of temperature 12–12.6°C and the mean annual precipitation 1784–2500 mm. Based on the nearest living species analysis, we conclude that the climate of the Changchang Basin on Hainan Island during the Eocene was close to that of the distribution areas of the living A. hainanensis.展开更多
Modern palms are diverse and widespread in the tropics and subtropics,especially the tropical rainforests.However,most fossil palm records have been reported from regions of relatively higher latitude.In this paper se...Modern palms are diverse and widespread in the tropics and subtropics,especially the tropical rainforests.However,most fossil palm records have been reported from regions of relatively higher latitude.In this paper seven species of coryphoid palm from the Eocene Changchang Basin of Hainan Island of South China are reported.These are Sabalites asymmetricus sp.nov.,S.robustus sp.nov.,S.tenufolius sp.nov.,S.szei Guo,S.changchagnensis Guo,Livistona sp.,and Amesoneuron sp.According to leaf morphological characteristics,they can be classified as members of the subfamily Coryphoideae.In extant flora of Hainan Island,only three species of Livistona have costapalmate leaves.These palm fossils indicate that,during the Eocene,flora in Hainan Island included a diversity of coryphoid palms,which have some bearings on the reconstruction of the palaeoclimate of South China.展开更多
Fossil reproductive structure from the Eocene of the Changchang Basin (Hainan Island,South China) is recognized as Chaneya hainanensis sp.nov.This new species is characterized by persistent corolla of five obovate pet...Fossil reproductive structure from the Eocene of the Changchang Basin (Hainan Island,South China) is recognized as Chaneya hainanensis sp.nov.This new species is characterized by persistent corolla of five obovate petals with three subparallel primary venation linked by arching secondary veins,circular central disk bearing two orbicular ovaries or fruit bodies.This discovery confirms the presence of the extinct fruit genus Chaneya in low-latitude tropical area,providing significant fossil evidence for investigating the origin,migration,and phytogeography of this genus and discussing the Tertiary floristic exchanges among North America,eastern Asia,and Europe.Considering the distribution of this genus and its extant relatives and the climate changes during the Cenozoic,we hypothesize that Chaneya was a widespread tropical or subtropical taxon,but,with climate cooling,became extinct in northern latitudes and evolved into Picrasma (Simaroubaceae) and Rutaceae mainly in modern tropics and subtropics.展开更多
基金Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 40672017)the joint Project of National Natural Science Foundation of China and Russian Foundation for Basic Research (Grant Nos. 40811120033, 07-04-92127)+1 种基金Guangdong Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 06023161)Key Project Inviting Foreign Teachers and Scientific Research Fund, Hongda Zhang, Sun Yat-sen University
文摘Alseodaphne changchangensis sp. nov. (Lauraceae), with a perfectly preserved fossil leaf, was found in the Eocene Changchang Formation from the Changchang Basin of Hainan Island, China. This represents the earliest occurrence at the lowest latitude for the genus Alseodaphne, and offers important fossil evidence for further investigation of the origin and evolution of this genus and the paleoclimate of Hainan Island in the Eocene. Based on leaf morphology and cuticle characteristics, our fossil specimen is closest to the living species A. hainanensis Merrill, which is distributed mainly in tropical lowland rain forests, tropical montane rain forests, and subtropical montane evergreen broad-leafed forests on Hainan Island, and also found on the Wanshan Islands of Zhuhai of Guangdong Province and in northern parts of Vietnam. In the above areas, the climate factors are similar, i.e., the mean annual temperature is 20–22.6°C, the mean annual range of temperature 12–12.6°C and the mean annual precipitation 1784–2500 mm. Based on the nearest living species analysis, we conclude that the climate of the Changchang Basin on Hainan Island during the Eocene was close to that of the distribution areas of the living A. hainanensis.
基金supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.41210001,31070200and40972011)National Basic Research Program of China(Grant No.2012CB822003)+2 种基金State Key Laboratory of Palaeobiology and Stratigraphy(Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology,CAS)(Grant No.123110)Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(Grant No.12LGJC04)Key Project of Sun Yat-sen University for inviting foreign teachers and the Scientific Research Fund,Hongda Zhang,Sun Yat-sen University
文摘Modern palms are diverse and widespread in the tropics and subtropics,especially the tropical rainforests.However,most fossil palm records have been reported from regions of relatively higher latitude.In this paper seven species of coryphoid palm from the Eocene Changchang Basin of Hainan Island of South China are reported.These are Sabalites asymmetricus sp.nov.,S.robustus sp.nov.,S.tenufolius sp.nov.,S.szei Guo,S.changchagnensis Guo,Livistona sp.,and Amesoneuron sp.According to leaf morphological characteristics,they can be classified as members of the subfamily Coryphoideae.In extant flora of Hainan Island,only three species of Livistona have costapalmate leaves.These palm fossils indicate that,during the Eocene,flora in Hainan Island included a diversity of coryphoid palms,which have some bearings on the reconstruction of the palaeoclimate of South China.
基金supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 40972011,31070200)National Basic Research Program of China (973 Program) (Grant No. 2012CB822003)+2 种基金the joint Project of National Natural Science Foundation of China and Russian Foundation for Basic Research (Grant Nos. 41111120083,11-04-91175)Guangdong Natural Science Foundation (Grant No. 10151027501000020)Key Project of the Sun Yat-sen University for inviting foreign teachers and Scientific Research Fund, Hongda Zhang, Sun Yat-sen University
文摘Fossil reproductive structure from the Eocene of the Changchang Basin (Hainan Island,South China) is recognized as Chaneya hainanensis sp.nov.This new species is characterized by persistent corolla of five obovate petals with three subparallel primary venation linked by arching secondary veins,circular central disk bearing two orbicular ovaries or fruit bodies.This discovery confirms the presence of the extinct fruit genus Chaneya in low-latitude tropical area,providing significant fossil evidence for investigating the origin,migration,and phytogeography of this genus and discussing the Tertiary floristic exchanges among North America,eastern Asia,and Europe.Considering the distribution of this genus and its extant relatives and the climate changes during the Cenozoic,we hypothesize that Chaneya was a widespread tropical or subtropical taxon,but,with climate cooling,became extinct in northern latitudes and evolved into Picrasma (Simaroubaceae) and Rutaceae mainly in modern tropics and subtropics.
