Piercipollis E.M.FRIIS, P.R.CRANE et K.R.PEDERSEN, 2019

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 : 215-217

Genus Piercipollis E.M.FRIIS, P.R.CRANE et K.R.PEDERSEN gen. nov.

T y p e. Designated here. Piercipollis simplex E.M.FRIIS ,

P.R.CRANE et K.R.PEDERSEN gen. et sp. nov.

P l a n t F o s s i l N a m e s R e g i s t r y N u m b e r.

PFN000477 (for new genus).

i) Monocolpate semitectate-reticulate pollen grain from anther showing distinct colpus margin with minute lumina; note dentate orbicules (arrowhead); j) Reticulum showing larger and smaller lumina and long columellae; k) Reticulum of pollen grain from anther fragment in (f) showing large and small luminae and long, scattered columellae; note spherical and dentate (arrowhead) orbicules on the pollen wall. Specimens, TV43 - S148209 (holotype; a–e) , TV44 - S136750 (f, k) , TV44 - S105021 (g, h, j) . TV44 - S136751 (i) . Scale bars 300 Μm (f, g), 150 Μm (a), 6 Μm (b–d, i), 3 Μm (e, h, j, k).

E t y m o l o g y. In honor of the American palynologist Richard L. Pierce in recognition of his important contributions to Cretaceous palynology.

D i a g n o s i s. Pollen small, almost circular in equatorial outline, monocolpate. Colpus extending for the full length of the grains. Exine semitectate-reticulate and columellate. Reticulum coarse, homobrochate with isodiametric, polygonal to rounded lumina. Muri smooth with flattened to slightly rounded profiles, supported by long scattered columellae. Colpus margin distinct, delimited by a continuous border formed by the marginal muri of the reticulum. Reticulum larger than the main body of the pollen grain to which it is only loosely attached.

C o m m e n t s o n t h e g e n u s. The genus is distinguished from Retimoncolpites dividuus described by Pierce (1961), the type species of Retimonocolpites, in having a colpus that extends to the equator and is restricted to the distal half of the grains. In R. dividuus the colpus extends around the grain dividing the grain into two halves. Pollen of Piercipollis is distinguished from grains of

Eckhartia and Eckhartiopsis in having a homobrochate, rather than heterobrochate reticulum, and a colpus margin that is clearly differentiated by the marginal muri of the reticulum.