Seed cones of Tsuga (Pinaceae) from the upper Miocene of eastern China: Biogeographic and paleoclimatic implications

Six well-preserved seed cones of Tsuga with fine bract-scale complexes were discovered from the late Miocene (Tortonian; 9.2-10.8 Ma) deposits of the Shengxian Formation at the border of Ninghai and Tiantai County, Zhejiang Province, eastern China. The fossil cones possess ovate to elliptic shape, s...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology
Main Authors: Ding, Su-Ting, Wu, Jing-Yu, Tang, De-Liang, Chen, Shu-Yang, Mo, Lin-Bo, Sun, Bai-Nian
Format: Report
Language:English
Published: ELSEVIER 2021
Subjects:
Tsuga
Seed cone
Miocene
Biogeography
Zhejiang Province
China
AXEL-HEIBERG ISLAND
CASTANOPSIS FAGACEAE
YUNNAN
HISTORY
PLIOCENE
ZHEJIANG
CANADA
AGE
Plant Sciences
Paleontology
Axel Heiberg Island
Canada
Heiberg
Online Access:http://ir.nigpas.ac.cn/handle/332004/37772
http://ir.nigpas.ac.cn/handle/332004/37773
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.revpalbo.2020.104358
Description
Summary:Six well-preserved seed cones of Tsuga with fine bract-scale complexes were discovered from the late Miocene (Tortonian; 9.2-10.8 Ma) deposits of the Shengxian Formation at the border of Ninghai and Tiantai County, Zhejiang Province, eastern China. The fossil cones possess ovate to elliptic shape, spirally arranged and obovate-orbicular ovuliferous scales, and cuneate-rhombic bracts hidden behind the scales with 2-lobed apex. Based on detailed comparison with extant and fossil cones of 7'suga, the present fossils are assigned to Tsuga cf. dumosa (D. Don) Eichler. The discovery of the fossil cones indicate that Tsuga had a wider distribution during the late Miocene than at the present. The increase of the difference in temperature between the coldest and warmest months since the late Miocene had forced Tsuga to retreat from eastern Zhejiang. (C) 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

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