Structurally Preserved <i>Liquidambar</i> Infructescences, Associated Pollen, and Leaves from the Late Oligocene of the Nanning Basin, South China

<i>Liquidambar</i> L. is a significant constituent of the Cenozoic flora in the Northern Hemisphere. Currently, this genus exhibits a discontinuous distribution across Asia and North America, with the center of diversity being in southeastern Asia. This study presents the first occurrenc...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Sheng-Lan Xu, Natalia Maslova, Tatiana Kodrul, Nikita Zdravchev, Vasilisa Kachkina, Xiao-Yan Liu, Xin-Kai Wu, Jian-Hua Jin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-01-01
Series:Plants
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/13/2/275
Description
Summary:<i>Liquidambar</i> L. is a significant constituent of the Cenozoic flora in the Northern Hemisphere. Currently, this genus exhibits a discontinuous distribution across Asia and North America, with the center of diversity being in southeastern Asia. This study presents the first occurrence of <i>Liquidambar</i> in the Oligocene of South China. Fossil sweetgum infructescences, associated pollen, and leaves have been found in the Nanning Basin, Guangxi. A new species, <i>Liquidambar nanningensis</i> sp. nov., is described based on the morphological and anatomical characteristics of three-dimensionally preserved infructescences. The <i>Liquidambar</i> fossils from the Nanning Basin show a combination of features indicative of the former genera of Altingiaceae, <i>Altingia, Liquidambar</i> s. str., and <i>Semiliquidambar</i>. The new occurrence expands the taxonomic and morphological diversity of the Paleogene <i>Liquidambar</i> species in South China.
ISSN:2223-7747