Tomcatia taylorii E.M.FRIIS, K.R.PEDERSEN et P.R.CRANE, 2013

Friis, Else Marie, Crane, Peter R. & Pedersen, Kaj Raunsgaard, 2019, The Early Cretaceous Mesofossil Flora Of Torres Vedras (Ne Of Forte Da Forca), Portugal: A Palaeofloristic Analysis Of An Early Angiosperm Community, Fossil Imprint 75 (2), pp. 153-257 : 173

Tomcatia taylorii E.M.FRIIS, K.R.PEDERSEN et P.R.CRANE, 2013

Text-fig. 11a

D e s c r i p t i o n a n d r e m a r k s.Chlamydospermous seeds that are four-angled to circular in transverse section, about 0.9 mm long without apical projections, about 1.7 mm long including the projections, and about 0.9 mm wide. The seed envelope is sclerenchymatic with indistinct and irregular transverse ridges extending between the corners of the seed ( Text-fig. 11a ). Apically the four corners of the seed envelope are each extended into a long spine and there is a prominent, pointed central protrusion that surrounds the micropyle ( Text-fig. 11a ).

A f f i n i t y a n d o t h e r o c c u r r e n c e s. Torres Vedras is the type locality for the genus Tomcatia , of which Tomcatia taylorii is the type species. In the Torres Vedras mesofossil flora T. taylorii is known from numerous wellpreserved specimens. Tomcatia taylorii is also reported from two other Portuguese localities, Buarcos and Catefica. Seeds assignable to Tomcatia ( Tomcatia sp. ) are also present, but rare, in the Puddledock mesofossil flora from Virginia, USA ( Friis et al. 2013).

Figures

Text-fig. 11. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) images of seeds assigned to the BEG group (a–d) and associated pollen grains (e–i); Torres Vedras locality, Portugal. a) Seed of Tomcatia taylorii showing the four horns formed by extensions of the envelope and the central projection of the envelope that surrounds to the micropylar tube; b, c) Seeds of Quadrispermum parvum in lateral (b) and apical (c) views showing the transverse ribs and the central projection of the envelope that surrounds the micropylar tube; d–f) Seeds of Ephedrispermum lusitanicum showing the four-angled seed envelope (d), the micropylar tube surrounded by the tissues of the integument (e), and ephedroid pollen grains on the seed surface (f); g) Apex of seed of Quadrispermum parvum showing simple