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Volume 27.1
January–April 2024
Full table of contents
ISSN: 1094-8074, web version;
1935-3952, print version
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Barbara Meller
Institute of Palaeontology
University of Vienna
Althanstr. 14
1090 Vienna
Austria
barbara.meller@univie.ac.at
Study of geology and palaeontology at the University of Mainz, Germany, finished with a diploma thesis about an upper Miocene leaf assemblage from the Mainz Basin, Germany.
Study of palaeontology at the University of Vienna in Austria, finished with a Ph.D. thesis about Early Miocene seed and fruit assemblages from a Styrian lignite area.
Main research topics are Neogene floras and their evolutionary, palaeoecological and palaeoclimatic implications, and to a minor amount the Triassic Lunz Formation in Lower Austria and Permian plant fossils from the Dolomites (Italy).
FIGURE 1. Geographical position of the type locality Pellendorf in Austria in an overview (X = position of Pellendorf) and exact map (M = sandpit Max, S = sandpit Semrad).
FIGURE 2. Part of the sediment block with the two leaves of Aristolochia austriaca nov. spec. in the same layer, (GBA 2008/085/0001a, b), scale bar 5 cm, HT = holotype, PT = paratype, ? = unidentifiable leaf fragments in a different layer.
FIGURE 3. Holotype of Aristolochia austriaca nov. spec., GBA 2008/085/0001a, scale bar 1.3 cm.
FIGURE 4. Paratype of Aristolochia austriaca nov. spec., (upper row) GBA 2008/085/0001b; and its counterpart (lower row), scale bars 1 cm.
FIGURE 5. cf. Aristolochia austriaca nov. spec., GBA 2008/085/0002, scale bar 1 cm.
FIGURE 6. Examples of Aristolochia leaves of extant species, all scale bars 1 cm. 1. A. sempervirens Linnaeus, 1753 (W 1889-284039, see also Figure 7). 2-4. A. rotunda Linnaeus, 1753 (6.2. W 1956-08094, 6.3. W 1976-06490, 6.44. W 1966-12346). 5. A. baetica Linnaeus, 1753 (W Herbar Jacq. Fil., see also Figure 9.1).
FIGURE 7. Voucher of Aristolochia sempervirens Linnaeus, 1753 (W 1889-284039) with a leaf of different shape at the base of one shoot (arrow); this leaf is figured in Figure 6.1, scale bar 5 cm.
FIGURE 8. Voucher of Aristolochia baetica Linnaeus, 1753 (W 1970-10884). 1. overview of two stems, scale bar 5 cm. 2. two normal leaves, detail of the upper stem, scale bar 1 cm. 3. one normal leaf type and one wider and infolded leaf (arrow), detail of the lower stem, scale bar 1 cm.
FIGURE 9. Examples of Aristolochia species with small and wide leaves. 1. A. baetica Linnaeus, 1753 (W Herbar. Jacq. Fil.), the upper leaf is figured in Figure 6.5 in detail, scale bar 5 cm. 2. A. bridgesii (Klotzsch) Duchartre, 1864 (W Herb. Cuming.), scale bar 1 cm. 3. A. chilensis Bridges ex Lindley, 1834 (W H. Endl. Chili-Cuming), scale bar 1 cm.
The first fossil Aristolochia (Aristolochiaceae, Piperales) leaves from Austria
Plain Language Abstract
The Aristolochiaceae belong to the Piperales within the basal angiosperms, which are an early separated group of flowering plants. The fossil record of this family however is rare and often ambiguous. The discovery of fossil Aristolochia leaves from 11-million-years-old river delta sediments, deposited about 45 km NE of Vienna (Austria) represents the first reliable fossil record from Central Europe. To prove the generic identity and to distinguish these fossils from similar leaves in other families, detailed comparisons with other families have been included (e.g., Concolvulaceae, Dioscoreaceae, Menispermaceae, Melastomataceae, Piperaceae, Saururaceae, Smilacaceae, and Urticaceae). All known fossil leaf records related to Aristolochia have been critically compared and a new species name A. austriaca nov. spec. was chosen for the fossil leaves. Comparisons with the numerous extant species showed most similarities to the Mediterranean species A. rotunda and A. baetica pointing to a relationship between these extant and the new fossil species.
Resumen en Español
Las primeras hojas fósiles de Aristolochia (Aristolochiaceae, Piperales) de Austria
Se describen los primeros restos fiables de hojas de Aristolochia de los sedimentos del Mioceno Tardío en Austria como A. austriaca nov. spec. Las investigaciones comparativas con cerca de 80 especies actuales de Aristolochia y con géneros seleccionados de otras familias apoyan la identificación del género. Las hojas fósiles de Europa, América del Norte y China anteriormente identificadas como Aristolochia o Aristolochites se compararon con los nuevos fósiles. Ninguna de estas son similares a las hojas de la nueva especie del yacimiento Pellendorf en el margen noroeste de la Cuenca de Viena. El ambiente sedimentario y los fósiles asociados indican un hábitat de humedal o de un área cercana a un ambiente de humedal. A. austriaca es muy similar a las especies actuales A. rotunda y A. baetica, y podría apuntar a una relación con dichas especies mediterráneas y también al origen de las mismas.
Palabras clave: angiosperma basal; nueva especie; registro fósil; Mioceno; sistemática; paleoecología
Traducción: Enrique Peñalver
Résumé en Français
Les premières feuilles fossiles d'Aristolochia (Aristolochiaceae, Piperales) d'Autriche
Les premiers restes fiables de feuilles d'Aristolochia provenant de sédiments du Miocène supérieur d'Autriche sont décrits comme A. austriaca nov. spec. Des études comparatives avec environ 80 espèces existantes de Aristolochia et avec certains genres d'autres familles ont soutenu l'identification générique. Des feuilles fossiles d'Europe, d'Amérique du Nord et de Chine auparavant identifiés comme Aristolochia ou Aristolochites ont été comparés aux nouveaux fossiles. Aucune d'elles sont similaires à la nouvelle espèce provenant du site Pellendorf à la marge nord-ouest du bassin de Vienne. L'environnement sédimentaire et les fossiles associés indiquent un habitat au sein ou à proximité de milieux humides. A. austriaca est très semblable aux espèces existantes A. rotonde et A. baetica et pourrait indiquer une relation avec ces espèces méditerranéennes et de leur origine.
Mots-clés: angiosperme basale; nouvelle espèce; registre fossile; Miocène; systématique; paléoécologie
Translator: Kenny J. Travouillon
Deutsche Zusammenfassung
Erste fossile Aristolochia Blätter (Aristolochiaceae, Piperales) aus Österreich
Erstmals werden eindeutige Blattabdrücke von Aristolochia aus obermiozänen Sedimenten Österreichs nachgewiesen und als neue Art Aristolochia austriaca nov. spec. beschrieben. Die Bestimmung basiert auf vergleichenden Untersuchungen mit über 80 rezenten Aristolochia Arten und den bisher bekannten fossilen Arten. Keine andere fossile Aristolochia und Aristolochites Art aus Europa, Nordamerika und China entspricht der neuen Art. Aristolochia austriaca zeigt große morphologische Ähnlichkeit zu den rezenten mediterranen Arten Aristolochia rotunda und Aristolochia baetica, was auf eine engere Verwandtschaft zu diesen mediterranen Arten und deren Ursprung hindeuten könnte. Die fluviatil-lakustrischen Sedimente und die assoziierte Fauna der Fundstelle Pellendorf, am Nordwestrand des Wiener Beckens gelegen, wurden in einem weiten Deltagebiet abgelagert. Die fossile Art wuchs vermutlich auf selten überfluteten Standorten in diesem Gebiet oder nicht weit davon entfernt
Schlagwörter: Basale Angiospermae; neue Art; Systematik; Miozän; Paläoökologie.
Translator: Author
Arabic
Translator: Ashraf M.T. Elewa
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Review: The Princeton Field Guide to Mesozoic Sea Reptiles
The Princeton Field Guide to Mesozoic Sea Reptiles
Article number: 26.1.1R
April 2023 -