Sanmiguelia

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Sanmiguelia
Temporal range:
Ma
Sanmiguelia fossil at the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms (?)
Genus: †Sanmiguelia
R.W. Br. (1956)[4]
Species:
†S. lewisii
Binomial name
†Sanmiguelia lewisii
R.W. Br. (1956)[2][3]

Sanmiguelia is an

extinct plant genus, probably of flowering plants. The genus and the species Sanmiguelia lewisii were first described in 1956 from the Late Triassic Chinle Formation in Colorado,[5][6] and later in Lower Jurassic Moenave Formation in Utah.[7][1] The species has been suggested to be one of the more primitive angiosperm fossils.[8]

Description

Since Sanmiguelia was first described in 1956, other specimens have been discovered. These suggest that plants were about 60 cm (2 ft) tall, and consisted of a conical stem with helically arranged leaves. The leaves were broadly elliptical, with a pointed apex and a base that clasped the stem. The stems were woody and contained secondary

carpels. Pollination is thought to have been carried out by insects.[9]

Taxonomy

The affinities of Sanmiguelia have proved controversial. When first described, the leaves of Sanmiguelia were described as palm-like.[5] Later an affinity with monocots, in particular Veratrum, was suggested. Others questioned this interpretation and suggested that Sanmiguelia was a cycad. When fossil reproductive structures were assigned to Sanmiguelia, it was considered to be a primitive angiosperm that combined features of both monocots and dicots.[6][9]

References

  1. ^ a b Ash, Sidney; Milner, Andrew; Trailo, David Alan. "First known post-Triassic occurrence of the palm-like plant fossil Sanmiguelia Brown". Retrieved January 2, 2021.
  2. ^ "Sanmiguelia lewisi". The International Fossil Plant Names Index. Retrieved 2024-04-04.
  3. Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History
    . Retrieved January 2, 2021.
  4. ^ "Sanmiguelia". The International Fossil Plant Names Index. Retrieved 2024-04-04.
  5. ^ a b Brown, Roland W. (1956). "Palm-like plants from the Dolores Formation (Triassic), southwestern Colorado" (PDF). United States Geological Survey Professional Paper, 274H. pp. 205–209. Retrieved March 30, 2024.
  6. ^ a b Cornet, Bruce (1989). "The Reproductive Morphology and Biology of Sanmiguelia lewisii, and its Bearing on Angiosperm Evolution in the Late Triassic". Evolutionary Trends: In Plants. 3 (1). Palisades, New York, USA: Lamont-Doherty Geological Observatory of Columbia University. Retrieved January 2, 2021.
  7. ^ "Newly Discovered Plant Fossil". National Park Service. Retrieved January 2, 2021.
  8. JSTOR 1304404
    .
  9. ^
    ISBN 978-0-12-373972-8
    . Pages 881–882


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