Foliar adaptations of Rhus asymmetrica sp. nov. from the Oligocene of Cervera (Catalonia, Spain). Palaeoclimatic implications

Rhus asymmetrica sp. nov. from the lower Oligocene of Cervera (Catalonia, Spain) is characterized by a trifoliate leaf with a symmetric sessile apical leaflet and asymmetric lateral leaflets. The apical leaflet displays a serrate margin and decurrent base with pinnate primary venation, craspedodromo...

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Authors: Tosal Alcobé, Aixa; Sanjuan i Girbau, Josep; Martín-Closas, Carles
Format: Article
Status:Accepted version
Publication date:2019
Country:España
Institution:Varias* (Consorci de Biblioteques Universitáries de Catalunya, Centre de Serveis Científics i Acadèmics de Catalunya)
Repository:Recercat. Dipósit de la Recerca de Catalunya
OAI Identifier:oai:recercat.cat:2445/219142
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/2445/219142
Access Level:Open access
Keyword:Paleoclimatologia
Oligocè
Paleobotànica
Plantes fòssils
Paleoecologia
Paleoclimatology
Oligocene
Paleobotany
Fossil plants
Paleoecology
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author Tosal Alcobé, Aixa
author2 Sanjuan i Girbau, Josep
Martín-Closas, Carles
author2_role author
author
author_browse Martín-Closas, Carles
Sanjuan i Girbau, Josep
Tosal Alcobé, Aixa
author_facet Tosal Alcobé, Aixa
Sanjuan i Girbau, Josep
Martín-Closas, Carles
author_role author
collection Recercat. Dipósit de la Recerca de Catalunya
description Rhus asymmetrica sp. nov. from the lower Oligocene of Cervera (Catalonia, Spain) is characterized by a trifoliate leaf with a symmetric sessile apical leaflet and asymmetric lateral leaflets. The apical leaflet displays a serrate margin and decurrent base with pinnate primary venation, craspedodromous secondary venation and an irregular reticulate tertiary framework. The lateral leaflets showa rounded basewith a secondary basal vein in the distal part of the lamina, while the proximal part is straight or concave. Formerly, these specimens were accommodated within Rhus pyrrhae Unger. However, detailed study of the R. pyrrhae holotype has led us to emend its diagnosis to include its brochidodromous secondary venation pattern, which differs clearly from the venation pattern of the new species. Additionally, a number of leaf morphotypes from the Cervera palaeobotanical site that were erroneously attributed to Rhus by former authors have been segregated and related to Acer and Toxicodendron. The extant species R. aromatica displays the closest foliar structure to R. asymmetrica sp. nov.However, differences in the leafmorphology suggest that the newspecies grewunder distinct palaeoclimatic conditions: (1) R. asymmetrica sp. nov. bears glands at the tips of the teeth of the lateral leaflets while R. aromatica is devoid of these glands. This character would help to prevent excessive evapotranspiration; (2) lateral leaflets of R. asymmetrica sp. nov. are asymmetric while in R. aromatica they are symmetric, suggesting that R. asymmetrica sp. nov. grew under a greater environmental stress than R. aromatica; (3) R. asymmetrica sp. nov. displays fewer teeth with a larger tooth-area than R. aromatica. This would indicate growth under a warm climate with low seasonal contrast. These features are compatible with an open woodland habitat under subtropical palaeoclimatic conditions.
eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
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institution Varias* (Consorci de Biblioteques Universitáries de Catalunya, Centre de Serveis Científics i Acadèmics de Catalunya)
instname_str Varias* (Consorci de Biblioteques Universitáries de Catalunya, Centre de Serveis Científics i Acadèmics de Catalunya)
network_acronym_str ES
network_name_str España
oai_identifier_str oai:recercat.cat:2445/219142
publishDate 2019
publishDateSort 2019
publisher Elsevier B.V.
publisherStr Elsevier B.V.
reponame_str Recercat. Dipósit de la Recerca de Catalunya
spelling Foliar adaptations of Rhus asymmetrica sp. nov. from the Oligocene of Cervera (Catalonia, Spain). Palaeoclimatic implications Tosal Alcobé, Aixa Sanjuan i Girbau, Josep Martín-Closas, Carles Paleoclimatologia Oligocè Paleobotànica Plantes fòssils Paleoecologia Paleoclimatology Oligocene Paleobotany Fossil plants Paleoecology Rhus asymmetrica sp. nov. from the lower Oligocene of Cervera (Catalonia, Spain) is characterized by a trifoliate leaf with a symmetric sessile apical leaflet and asymmetric lateral leaflets. The apical leaflet displays a serrate margin and decurrent base with pinnate primary venation, craspedodromous secondary venation and an irregular reticulate tertiary framework. The lateral leaflets showa rounded basewith a secondary basal vein in the distal part of the lamina, while the proximal part is straight or concave. Formerly, these specimens were accommodated within Rhus pyrrhae Unger. However, detailed study of the R. pyrrhae holotype has led us to emend its diagnosis to include its brochidodromous secondary venation pattern, which differs clearly from the venation pattern of the new species. Additionally, a number of leaf morphotypes from the Cervera palaeobotanical site that were erroneously attributed to Rhus by former authors have been segregated and related to Acer and Toxicodendron. The extant species R. aromatica displays the closest foliar structure to R. asymmetrica sp. nov.However, differences in the leafmorphology suggest that the newspecies grewunder distinct palaeoclimatic conditions: (1) R. asymmetrica sp. nov. bears glands at the tips of the teeth of the lateral leaflets while R. aromatica is devoid of these glands. This character would help to prevent excessive evapotranspiration; (2) lateral leaflets of R. asymmetrica sp. nov. are asymmetric while in R. aromatica they are symmetric, suggesting that R. asymmetrica sp. nov. grew under a greater environmental stress than R. aromatica; (3) R. asymmetrica sp. nov. displays fewer teeth with a larger tooth-area than R. aromatica. This would indicate growth under a warm climate with low seasonal contrast. These features are compatible with an open woodland habitat under subtropical palaeoclimatic conditions. Elsevier B.V. https://hdl.handle.net/2445/219142
spellingShingle Foliar adaptations of Rhus asymmetrica sp. nov. from the Oligocene of Cervera (Catalonia, Spain). Palaeoclimatic implications
Tosal Alcobé, Aixa
Paleoclimatologia
Oligocè
Paleobotànica
Plantes fòssils
Paleoecologia
Paleoclimatology
Oligocene
Paleobotany
Fossil plants
Paleoecology
status_str acceptedVersion
title Foliar adaptations of Rhus asymmetrica sp. nov. from the Oligocene of Cervera (Catalonia, Spain). Palaeoclimatic implications
title_full Foliar adaptations of Rhus asymmetrica sp. nov. from the Oligocene of Cervera (Catalonia, Spain). Palaeoclimatic implications
title_fullStr Foliar adaptations of Rhus asymmetrica sp. nov. from the Oligocene of Cervera (Catalonia, Spain). Palaeoclimatic implications
title_full_unstemmed Foliar adaptations of Rhus asymmetrica sp. nov. from the Oligocene of Cervera (Catalonia, Spain). Palaeoclimatic implications
title_short Foliar adaptations of Rhus asymmetrica sp. nov. from the Oligocene of Cervera (Catalonia, Spain). Palaeoclimatic implications
title_sort Foliar adaptations of Rhus asymmetrica sp. nov. from the Oligocene of Cervera (Catalonia, Spain). Palaeoclimatic implications
topic Paleoclimatologia
Oligocè
Paleobotànica
Plantes fòssils
Paleoecologia
Paleoclimatology
Oligocene
Paleobotany
Fossil plants
Paleoecology
topic_facet Paleoclimatologia
Oligocè
Paleobotànica
Plantes fòssils
Paleoecologia
Paleoclimatology
Oligocene
Paleobotany
Fossil plants
Paleoecology
url https://hdl.handle.net/2445/219142