Fossils of Ginkgophyte Leaves with Attached Seeds from the Permian
Author Information
Author(s): Thilo C. Fischer, Barbara Meller, Evelyn Kustatscher, Rainer Butzmann
Primary Institution: Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich
Hypothesis
The fossilized ginkgophyte leaves represent ancestral sporophylls similar to the aberrant O-ha-tsuki leaves of Ginkgo biloba.
Conclusion
The study provides evidence that some fossil ginkgophyte structures may represent ancestral forms of modern Ginkgo biloba's reproductive organs.
Supporting Evidence
- Fossils were found in the Upper Permian of the Dolomites, Italy.
- Some specimens showed putatively attached seeds, suggesting a connection.
- Cuticular analysis indicated similarities with extant Ginkgo biloba.
Takeaway
Scientists found old plant fossils that look like modern Ginkgo leaves with seeds attached, suggesting they are related.
Methodology
Fossils were excavated and analyzed for morphology and cuticular structures.
Limitations
The preservation of some specimens was not sufficient to confirm organic connections between leaves and seeds.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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