A new species of Keteleeria (Pinaceae) in the Shanwang Miocene flora of China and its phytogeographic connection with North America

Author(s)
Yu-Fei Wang, Qiao-Ping Xiang, David-Kay Ferguson, Ewa Zastawniak, Jian Yang, Cheng-Sen Li
Abstract

The presence of Keteleeria in the Miocene of eastern China is confirmed by the discovery of a cone, winged seeds, and leafy shoots. These are described and compared with other fossil and recent representatives. The best match was with K. rujadana, a K. fortunei-like fossil from the Oligocene of Oregon, U.S.A. The presence of similar, if not identical taxa, on both sides of the Pacific indicates that in the Mid-Tertiary exchange between East Asia and North America via the Beringian land-bridge was still possible. With global cooling in the Tertiary, this thermophilic conifer became scarce. Its present restricted distribution dates from the Quaternary.

Organisation(s)
Department of Palaeontology
External organisation(s)
Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Polish Academy of Sciences (PAS)
Journal
Taxon: international journal of plant taxonomy, phylogeny and evolution
Volume
55
Pages
165-171
No. of pages
7
ISSN
0040-0262
Publication date
2006
Peer reviewed
Yes
Austrian Fields of Science 2012
105118 Palaeontology
Portal url
https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/en/publications/ab81f8fd-e32a-43ba-a9b2-45a2d2bcfe24