Tracing the evolution of Dicksoniaceae and Thyrsopteridaceae (Cyatheales) in South America: new records from the Cretaceous
Dicksonia hallei is currently the oldest credible macrofossil record of Dicksonia and Dicksoniaceae in South America, indicating that Dicksonia has been present on the continent at least since the Early Cretaceous. Because it has fertile pinnae and pinnules with highly reduced laminar tissue (skeletonized pinnae and pinnules) bearing Cyathidites minor-type spores, Rhabdopteris likely has affinities to the family Thyrsopteridaceae. The Thyrsopteridaceae have an extensive fossil record worldwide encompassing several fossil foliage genera.
Authors
- N. Rubén Cúneo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6564-4382)
- Elizabeth J. Hermsen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2666-4385)
- María del Carmen Zamaloa (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5961-7660)
- María A. Gandolfo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5430-1808)
- Ignacio H. Escapa (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7042-7750)
- Facundo De Benedetti (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7590-2901)
Institutions
- Cornell University (US)
- Museum of Paleontology Egidio Feruglio (AR)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Annals of Botany
- Published
- 2025-09-18
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1093/aob/mcaf228
- Primary Topic
- Fern and Epiphyte Biology
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00