Abstract
The Middle Eocene Princeton chert from southern British Columbia represents one of the richest known assemblages of permineralized Tertiary plants. Affinities with modern aquatic angiosperms, anatomical modifications for the aquatic habit and associated fresh water faunal elements support the interpretation of some components of the Princeton chert as in situ aquatic plants. Among these are fossil plants with affinities to the extent Nymphaeaceae (Allenbya), Araceae (Keratosperma), Alismataceae (Heleophyton), Cyperaceae/Juncaceae (Ethela) and Lythraceae (Decodon). Anatomical modifications include aerenchyma in vegetative tissues (Eorhiza, Dennstaedtiopsis, Heleophyton and Uhlia), the thin-walled tracheary elements without prominent secondary wall thickenings and the presence of protoxylem lacunae surrounded by a ring of cells with thickened inner walls (Heleophyton). Seeds that share morphological features with extant aquatics are characterized by a palisade layer, operculum, external mucilage, small amounts of endosperm and abundant perisperm. Associated faunal elements include turtle bones in the peat matrix and freshwater fish at the top of the section. In situ preservation of these aquatic forms is supported by the presence of rooted axes, the large number of plant organs of the same type and preservation of complete flowers, delicate tissues and organic connections allowing for whole plant reconstruction.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 173-185 |
| Number of pages | 13 |
| Journal | Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology |
| Volume | 70 |
| Issue number | 1-2 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Sep 13 1991 |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Palaeontology
- Earth and Planetary Sciences(all)
- Environmental Science(all)
Cite this
The Princeton chert : Evidence for in situ aquatic plants. / Cevallos-Ferriz, Sergio R S; Stockey, Ruth A.; Pigg, Kathleen.
In: Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology, Vol. 70, No. 1-2, 13.09.1991, p. 173-185.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - The Princeton chert
T2 - Evidence for in situ aquatic plants
AU - Cevallos-Ferriz, Sergio R S
AU - Stockey, Ruth A.
AU - Pigg, Kathleen
PY - 1991/9/13
Y1 - 1991/9/13
N2 - The Middle Eocene Princeton chert from southern British Columbia represents one of the richest known assemblages of permineralized Tertiary plants. Affinities with modern aquatic angiosperms, anatomical modifications for the aquatic habit and associated fresh water faunal elements support the interpretation of some components of the Princeton chert as in situ aquatic plants. Among these are fossil plants with affinities to the extent Nymphaeaceae (Allenbya), Araceae (Keratosperma), Alismataceae (Heleophyton), Cyperaceae/Juncaceae (Ethela) and Lythraceae (Decodon). Anatomical modifications include aerenchyma in vegetative tissues (Eorhiza, Dennstaedtiopsis, Heleophyton and Uhlia), the thin-walled tracheary elements without prominent secondary wall thickenings and the presence of protoxylem lacunae surrounded by a ring of cells with thickened inner walls (Heleophyton). Seeds that share morphological features with extant aquatics are characterized by a palisade layer, operculum, external mucilage, small amounts of endosperm and abundant perisperm. Associated faunal elements include turtle bones in the peat matrix and freshwater fish at the top of the section. In situ preservation of these aquatic forms is supported by the presence of rooted axes, the large number of plant organs of the same type and preservation of complete flowers, delicate tissues and organic connections allowing for whole plant reconstruction.
AB - The Middle Eocene Princeton chert from southern British Columbia represents one of the richest known assemblages of permineralized Tertiary plants. Affinities with modern aquatic angiosperms, anatomical modifications for the aquatic habit and associated fresh water faunal elements support the interpretation of some components of the Princeton chert as in situ aquatic plants. Among these are fossil plants with affinities to the extent Nymphaeaceae (Allenbya), Araceae (Keratosperma), Alismataceae (Heleophyton), Cyperaceae/Juncaceae (Ethela) and Lythraceae (Decodon). Anatomical modifications include aerenchyma in vegetative tissues (Eorhiza, Dennstaedtiopsis, Heleophyton and Uhlia), the thin-walled tracheary elements without prominent secondary wall thickenings and the presence of protoxylem lacunae surrounded by a ring of cells with thickened inner walls (Heleophyton). Seeds that share morphological features with extant aquatics are characterized by a palisade layer, operculum, external mucilage, small amounts of endosperm and abundant perisperm. Associated faunal elements include turtle bones in the peat matrix and freshwater fish at the top of the section. In situ preservation of these aquatic forms is supported by the presence of rooted axes, the large number of plant organs of the same type and preservation of complete flowers, delicate tissues and organic connections allowing for whole plant reconstruction.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0026305268&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0026305268&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/0034-6667(91)90085-H
DO - 10.1016/0034-6667(91)90085-H
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:0026305268
VL - 70
SP - 173
EP - 185
JO - Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology
JF - Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology
SN - 0034-6667
IS - 1-2
ER -