Abstract Detail

Paleobotanical Section

Herendeen, Patrick S. [1], Takahashi, Masamichi [2], Crane, Peter [3].

Microtomography analyses of fossil flowers from the Late Cretaceous of Georgia.

SEM studies of Cretaceous age fossil charcoalified flowers have revealed considerable taxonomic diversity and have enabled detailed analyses of structural details and taxonomic relationships in these plants. Fine anatomical details are often preserved, as are pollen grains, and SEM has been the ideal method for study of these materials. However, the need for details on internal structure has sometimes impeded study of some fossils. For example, information about locule number in the ovary or structural details in flower buds requires destructive specimen preparation methods (dissection, fracture, sectioning). Synchrotron-based X-ray microtomography provides an easy and non-destructive method to obtain internal structural details, with very fine resolution (less than 1 um possible). Our study of fossil flowers, including many flower buds, from the Late Cretaceous (Coniacian-Santonian) Upatoi Creek localities in western Georgia has revealed additional taxonomic diversity that was not evident from SEM examination of the closed buds. From SEM study it was already clear that there was considerable diversity of Ericales in the fossil assemblage from Upatoi Creek, and the tomography analyses revealed several additional taxa. In addition, some floral parts are usually missing from open flowers, especially petals or stamens, and tomography imaging of late stage flower buds provides definitive information on numbers of floral parts and aestivation in intact specimens. The paper will present details on several fossil Ericales flowers that were studied using tomography methods at the Spring-8 facility in Japan, and the Advanced Photon Source at Argonne National Laboratories.

Broader Impacts:

1 - Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe, IL, 60022, USA
2 - Niigata University, Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty Of Science, 8050 2-No-Cho Igarashi, Niigata, 950-2181, Japan
3 - School of Forestry & Environmental Studies, Yale University, 195 Prospect Street, New Haven, CT, 06511, USA

Keywords:
Cretaceous
microtomography
Ericales.

Presentation Type: Oral Paper:Papers for Sections
Session: 23
Location: 555A/Convention Center
Date: Tuesday, August 3rd, 2010
Time: 8:00 AM
Number: 23001
Abstract ID:459