Iodes sp, Blume, 1825

Rio, Cédric Del & Franceschi, Dario De, 2020, Icacinaceae fossil fruits from three sites of the Paris Basin (early Eocene, France): local diversity and global biogeographic implications, Geodiversitas 42 (2), pp. 17-28 : 23-24

Iodes sp .

( Fig. 4A, B )

LOCALITY. — Grès de Belleu.

STRATIGRAPHY. — Cuisian.

SPECIMEN. — MNHN.F.8100 .

DESCRIPTION

Endocarp elliptical, abraded in the upper right part, singleseeded with one locule and a lateral vascular bundle embedded in the endocarp wall ( Fig. 4B ). Base rounded, symmetrical. Endocarp reticulate, forming some polygonal areoles and with five longitudinal ridges ( Fig. 4A ). Anatomical detail unknown. Length 13.2 mm, width 8.7 mm.

REMARKS AND AFFINITIES

A single specimen was found. Despite the lack of anatomical detail, especially regarding the presence and morphology of papillae, we assign this specimen to the extant genus Iodes , because it possesses a vascular bundle embedded in the endocarp wall and a reticulate pattern in ornamentation. These two characters are only found in the extant genera Iodes and Icacina (and the fossil genus Iodicarpa Manchester but with faint reticulation). However, Icacina species are generally much larger and more globular in shape. The lack of anatomical characters hinders the recognition of a new species. The length and width of the specimen is close to Iodes eocenica ( Reid & Chandler 1933; Cleal et al. 2001) but narrower and could be close to Iodes multireticulata; without sufficient anatomical preservation for comparison with other fossil species, it remains impossible to attribute it to a particular species.

Figures

FIG. 4. — A, B, Iodes sp. (MNHN.F.8100): A, lateral view of the endocast; B, vascular bundle embedded on the endocarp wall (arrow); C, Palaeophytocrene sp. (MNHN.F.8061), lateral view. Scale bars: A-C, 5 mm; B, 1 mm.