Keywords
Populus, fruits, Tertiary period, Utah
Abstract
A new specimen from the Middle Eocene Evacuation Creek Member of the Green River Formation in northeastern Utah shows a twig with several leaves of Populus wilmattae Crockrell and a fruiting raceme attache. This specimen establishes for the first time the type of fruits borne by P. wilmattae and provides additional characters with which to assess its taxonomic and evolutionary status. An associated seed shows attached placental hairs like those of extant species of Populus. The Green River fossil differs from extant Populus species in having basically palmate leaf venation and in bearing its fruiting axis on a young twig. In other aspects, the fossil species is remarkably similar to the extant species Populus mexicana.
Original Publication Citation
Interconnected reproductive and vegetative remains of Populus (Salicaceae) from the middle Eocene Green River Formation, northeastern Utah. Steven R. Manchester, David L. Dilcher, and William D. Tidwell American Journal of Botany (January 1986), 73(1):156-16
BYU ScholarsArchive Citation
Tidwell, William D.; Manchester, Steven R.; and Dilcher, David L., "Interconnected reproductive and vegetative remains of Populus (Salicaceae) from the middle Eocene Green River Formation, northeastern Utah" (1986). Faculty Publications. 1450.
https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/facpub/1450
Document Type
Peer-Reviewed Article
Publication Date
1986-01-01
Permanent URL
http://hdl.lib.byu.edu/1877/2495
Publisher
Botanical Society of America
Language
English
College
Physical and Mathematical Sciences
Department
Geological Sciences
Copyright Status
© 1986 Botanical Society of America;
Copyright Use Information
http://lib.byu.edu/about/copyright/