Leaf architecture and ecophysiology of an early basal eudicot from the Early Cretaceous of Spain

• DOI: 10.1111/boj.12095
• Publication Date: 2013-11-21T22:01:17Z
• Authors: Abel Barral; Bernard Gomez; Taylor S. Feild; Clément Coiffard; Véronique Daviero...
• Keywords: Eudicots; Ecophysiology; Paleobotany; Paleoecology

Iterophyllum lobatum gen. et sp. nov. is reported from the late Barremian lithographic limestones of Las Hoyas, Spain. It consists a simple, petiolate leaf, with pinnately lobed lamina. The dentate thickened margin bears chloranthoid-like glands at lobe apices and sinuses. venation pinnate craspedodromous, three discernible vein orders. Based on low regularity course angles leaf rank, such pattern may represent an early evolved archetype in basal eudicots. An acropetal development mode I. similar to that several living Papaveraceae. architecture ecophysiology, particularly widths glands, indicate leaves were aerial. plant grew close water wetland terrestrial ecosystem Hoyas. might have been opportunist species ecological succession stages after wildfires.