A fossil genus of the Frullaniaceae (Porellales, Jungermanniopsida) from the mid-Cretaceous of Myanmar

Heinrichs, Jochen; Feldberg, Kathrin; Bechteler, Julia; Müller, Patrick; Renner, Matthew A. M.; Vana, Jiri; Schäfer-Verwimp, Alfons; Schmidt, Alexander R. (2017): A fossil genus of the Frullaniaceae (Porellales, Jungermanniopsida) from the mid-Cretaceous of Myanmar. In: Cretaceous Research, Vol. 74: pp. 223-226

Abstract

Recent findings established the Albian-Cenomanian amber of Myanmar (Burmese amber) as an important source of Mesozoic cryptogams. Here, we describe an inclusion within Burmese amber as Proto-frullania cornigera gen. et sp. nov. in the extant family Frullaniaceae (Porellales, Jungermanniopsida). Diagnostic characters include its incubous leaves consisting of a dorsal lobe and a ventral lobule forming a watersac, and strap-shaped, prominent underleaves producing a rhizoid bundle from the uppermost sector of the long, narrow disc. Bark fragments connected to some of the rhizoid bundles provide evidence that the fossil was an epiphyte.

• Item Type: Journal article
• Research Centers: GeoBio-Center
• Subjects: 500 Science > 500 Science
• ISSN: 0195-6671
• Language: English