Back
Euphorbiotheca gothii
Euphorbiotheca gothii M.E. Collinson, Manchester, V. Wilde Abh. Senckenberg. Naturf. Ges., 570: 24. 29 Jun 2012
- Name
- Euphorbiotheca gothii
- Rank
- Species
- Generic Name
- [Genus] Euphorbiotheca
- Authors (Pub.)
- Collinson M. E.
Manchester S. R.
Wilde V.
- Publication
- Fossil fruits and seeds of the Middle Eocene Messel biota, Germany [2012/6]
- Journal
- Abhandlungen [herausgegeben von] der Senckenbergischen Naturforschenden Gesellschaft
- Volume
- 570
- Page number
- 24
- Year
- 2012
- Fossil Status
- fruits (with seeds)
- Stratigraphy
- Lutetian
- Location
- Messel, Landkreis Darmstadt-Dieburg, Hesse, Germany
- Paleoregion
- Eurasia (Europe)
Data for Holotypus
- Repository
- Senckenberg Naturhistorische Sammlungen Frankfurt, Senckenberg Forschungsinstitut und Naturmuseum, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Repository Number
- SM.B Me 7117
- Diagnosis
- Fruit spherical to oblate [in lateral compression breadth 5.8 to 9.9 mm, height 7.2–10.3 mm (n = 10)], 6.7–10 mm in diameter in polar compression. Fruits borne on a stout pedicel preserved to 5.9 mm long. Attachment area circular, without perianth remnants. Outer surface rugulate to verrucate at a submillimeter-scale, possibly leathery. Fruits radially symmetrical with six equally spaced meridional grooves. Meridional grooves delimit six equal segments which are frequently found shed, either singly or in pairs. Paired segments are interpreted as cocci, the units resulting from loculicidal dehiscence. A subsequent septicidal dehiscence (the initiation of which is frequently seen) divides the coccus into two equal single segments. The locule is positioned in the upper two thirds of the fruit. Locule outline obpyriform. Woody endocarp surrounds the locule, about 0.3 mm thick, and protrudes apically. Locule lining of the endocarp finely striate with striae radiating obliquely across the locule from the lower part of the fruit axis and arching apically toward endocarp margins. Endocarp surrounded by mesocarp tissue 1.5–2.2 mm thick with a finely wrinkled surface as seen on the sides of the capsule valves, suggestive of leathery texture, and a thin epicarp with verrucate to rugulate surface. Many of the fruits show evidence of ballistic dispersal, sometimes with cocci attached only by a thin portion of endocarp or pulled apart and/or twisted. Seeds flattened elliptical, 3.3 mm high, 2.2 mm wide, apparently one per locule.
