The first ptychanthoid Lejeuneaceae in Miocene Mexican amber

Authors

  • Armin Scheben Systematic Botany and Mycology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Menzinger Strasse 67, 80638 München
  • Alexander R Schmidt Department of Geobiology, University of Göttingen, Goldschmidstrasse 3, 37077 Göttingen
  • Alfons Shäfer-Verwimp Mittlere Letten 11, 88634, Herdwangen-Schönach
  • Mónica M. Solórzano Kraemer Senckenberg Forschungsinstitut und Naturmuseum, Senckenberganlage 25, 60325 Frankfurt am Main
  • Jochen Heinrichs Systematic Botany and Mycology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Menzinger Strasse 67, 80638 München

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.7751/telopea20148083

Keywords:

Cenozoic, fossil, Jungermanniopsida, Porellales, Ptychanthoideae

Abstract

Two inclusions of leafy liverworts in Miocene Mexican amber are tentatively assigned to the extant genus Mastigolejeunea (Lejeuneaceae subfam. Ptychanthoideae). Both specimens share complicate bilobed leaves with a rounded lobe apex, a lobule with an oblique free margin continuing into the ventral margin of the leaf lobe, elongated leaf cells, a broad ventral merophyte, and undivided underleaves with a truncate to slightly emarginated, recurved apex. The lack of generative structures prevents a more thorough taxonomic treatment. Nevertheless, the inclusions represent the first ptychanthoid Lejeuneaceae from Mexican amber.

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Published

2014-12-17