Peltandra primaeva
Encyclopedia
Peltandra primaeva is an extinct
species
of monocot in the Araceae
family known from a Ypresian
age Eocene
fossil
found in western North Dakota
, USA.
The species was described from a single leaf specimen found at the White Butte locality, USNM
number 14048. This locality is placed in the Camels Butte member of the Golden Valley Formation. The Camels Butte member outcrops at a number of sites in western North Dakota
, and is designated the type locality
.
The holotype
specimen, number USNM 43184, is preserved in the National Museum of Natural History
collections of the Smithsonian Institution
. The single specimen was studied by paleobotanist Leo J. Hickey of the Yale University Geology Department
. Hickey published the 1977 type description for P. primaeva in the Geological Society of America
memoir 150, Stratigraphy and Paleobotany of the Golden Valley Formation (Early Tertiary) of Western North Dakota. Hickey chose the specific name
primaeva, noting the species to be the first and only megafossil
record for the genus Peltandra
described.
The holotype of Peltandra primaeva is a distal leaf portion
displaying a short slightly pointed tip. The preserved section shows a distinct pattern of veins running parallel to the margin with reticulation in the veins forming abaxially. The only modern member of Araceae
to show this structuring is Peltandra, hence the placement in the genus. Unlike the modern species P. primaeva, it has between eight and ten veins parallel to the margin and forms a 3.5 to 6 mm (0.137795275590551 to 0.236220472440945 in) costal zone which is larger than in modern species. The preservation of the fossil suggests the leaf would have been chartaeous, thin and paper-like, in life.
Extinction
In biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
of monocot in the Araceae
Araceae
Araceae are a family of monocotyledonous flowering plants in which flowers are borne on a type of inflorescence called a spadix. The spadix is usually accompanied by, and sometimes partially enclosed in, a spathe or leaf-like bract. Also known as the Arum family, members are often colloquially...
family known from a Ypresian
Ypresian
In the geologic timescale the Ypresian is the oldest age or lowest stratigraphic stage of the Eocene. It spans the time between and , is preceded by the Thanetian age and is followed by the Eocene Lutetian age....
age Eocene
Eocene
The Eocene Epoch, lasting from about 56 to 34 million years ago , is a major division of the geologic timescale and the second epoch of the Paleogene Period in the Cenozoic Era. The Eocene spans the time from the end of the Palaeocene Epoch to the beginning of the Oligocene Epoch. The start of the...
fossil
Fossil
Fossils are the preserved remains or traces of animals , plants, and other organisms from the remote past...
found in western North Dakota
North Dakota
North Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, along the Canadian border. The state is bordered by Canada to the north, Minnesota to the east, South Dakota to the south and Montana to the west. North Dakota is the 19th-largest state by area in the U.S....
, USA.
The species was described from a single leaf specimen found at the White Butte locality, USNM
National Museum of Natural History
The National Museum of Natural History is a natural history museum administered by the Smithsonian Institution, located on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., United States. Admission is free and the museum is open 364 days a year....
number 14048. This locality is placed in the Camels Butte member of the Golden Valley Formation. The Camels Butte member outcrops at a number of sites in western North Dakota
North Dakota
North Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, along the Canadian border. The state is bordered by Canada to the north, Minnesota to the east, South Dakota to the south and Montana to the west. North Dakota is the 19th-largest state by area in the U.S....
, and is designated the type locality
Type locality (geology)
Type locality , also called type area or type locale, is the where a particular rock type, stratigraphic unit, fossil or mineral species is first identified....
.
The holotype
Holotype
A holotype is a single physical example of an organism, known to have been used when the species was formally described. It is either the single such physical example or one of several such, but explicitly designated as the holotype...
specimen, number USNM 43184, is preserved in the National Museum of Natural History
National Museum of Natural History
The National Museum of Natural History is a natural history museum administered by the Smithsonian Institution, located on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., United States. Admission is free and the museum is open 364 days a year....
collections of the Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Institution is an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the government of the United States and by funds from its endowment, contributions, and profits from its retail operations, concessions, licensing activities, and magazines...
. The single specimen was studied by paleobotanist Leo J. Hickey of the Yale University Geology Department
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
. Hickey published the 1977 type description for P. primaeva in the Geological Society of America
Geological Society of America
The Geological Society of America is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of the geosciences. The society was founded in New York in 1888 by Alexander Winchell, John J. Stevenson, Charles H. Hitchcock, John R. Proctor and Edward Orton and has been headquartered at 3300 Penrose...
memoir 150, Stratigraphy and Paleobotany of the Golden Valley Formation (Early Tertiary) of Western North Dakota. Hickey chose the specific name
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
primaeva, noting the species to be the first and only megafossil
Fossil
Fossils are the preserved remains or traces of animals , plants, and other organisms from the remote past...
record for the genus Peltandra
Peltandra
Peltandra is a genus of plants in the Araceae family.-Selected species:* Peltandra sagittifolia – Spoon flower* Peltandra virginica – Arum arrow* †Peltandra primaeva – Eocene, Golden Valley Formation, North Dakota, USA...
described.
The holotype of Peltandra primaeva is a distal leaf portion
Leaf
A leaf is an organ of a vascular plant, as defined in botanical terms, and in particular in plant morphology. Foliage is a mass noun that refers to leaves as a feature of plants....
displaying a short slightly pointed tip. The preserved section shows a distinct pattern of veins running parallel to the margin with reticulation in the veins forming abaxially. The only modern member of Araceae
Araceae
Araceae are a family of monocotyledonous flowering plants in which flowers are borne on a type of inflorescence called a spadix. The spadix is usually accompanied by, and sometimes partially enclosed in, a spathe or leaf-like bract. Also known as the Arum family, members are often colloquially...
to show this structuring is Peltandra, hence the placement in the genus. Unlike the modern species P. primaeva, it has between eight and ten veins parallel to the margin and forms a 3.5 to 6 mm (0.137795275590551 to 0.236220472440945 in) costal zone which is larger than in modern species. The preservation of the fossil suggests the leaf would have been chartaeous, thin and paper-like, in life.