| Abstract Detail
Paleobotanical Section Liu, (Christopher) Yusheng [1]. Sinomenium (Menispermaceae) endocarps from the Gray Fossil Site (Latest Miocene-Earliest Pliocene), northeast Tennessee. The Gray Fossil Site (GFS) outcropped in northeast Tennessee, dated by the presence of three mammal fossils (i.e. short-faced bears, camels, and rhinos) at the same layers from which fossil plants were collected as the Latest Miocene-Earliest Pliocene (7-4.5 Ma), yields a great number of well-preserved fossil plants, particularly fruits and seeds. They were processed through bulk sieving and carefully sorted. The fossil endocarps are menispermaceous due to their distinct horse-shoed shape and ridged dorsal margin. The fossils were further compared with the extant menispermaceous endocarps from Menispermium and Sinomenium via SEM observation, which confirms that the fossil from GFS is assigned to Sinomenium, an endemic medicinal plant genus from central China. The recognition of this vine plant supports the reconstruction of a forest-setting during the late Neogene of southern Appalachians from the vertebrate fossils of the GFS.
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1 - East Tennessee State University, Biological Sciences, PO Box 70703, Johnson City, TN, 37614-1700, USA
Keywords:
Sinomenium
Menispermaceae
Late Neogene
endocarps
Tennessee.
Presentation Type: Oral Paper:Papers for Sections
Session: 60
Location: 169/Law
Date: Wednesday, July 30th, 2008
Time: 2:00 PM
Number: 60005
Abstract ID:380 |
