02108nas a2200205   4500008004100000245009000041210006900131300001200200490000700212520148900219653001101708653001701719653002201736653001401758653002001772100002201792700002101814700001901835856004801854       2009                        eng d00aAnatomy and development of fruits of Lauraceae from the Middle Eocene Princeton Chert0 aAnatomy and development of fruits of Lauraceae from the Middle E  a637-6510 v963 a<p>Investigations of the Middle Eocene Princeton Chert reveal evidence for the connection of lauraceous fl owers to fruits through a developmental series. Youngest fruits are found with attached fl oral remnants. Later stages show receptacle enlargement, fruit wall thickening, and the development of abundant sclereid clusters. Mature fruits are borne on a shallow receptacle and have an endocarp palisade layer of radially elongate cells with stellate outlines, an inner mesocarp layer of radiately arranged sclereid clusters, and a fl eshy outer mesocarp layer containing numerous idioblasts with contents. Each mature fruit bears a single seed retaining the outer integument with an innermost radially elongate transfusion cell layer. Mature seeds contain a cellular embryo bearing idioblasts. Fruits are distinguishable from previously described anatomically preserved fossil taxa. This study represents the only documented developmental reconstruction of fossil fruits of Lauraceae and that self-pruning evolved prior to the Eocene. Anatomical modifi cations over the developmental sequence indicate that different stages of maturity preserved together, may be erroneously identifi ed as several taxa at a fossil locality. Fossil morphotypes typically underestimate species number, but this study suggests that the number of inferred species based on fruit types may be infl ated for Lauraceae, potentially exaggerating the tropical interpretation of the paleoenvironment.</p>
10aEocene10afossil fruit10afruit development10aLauraceae10aPrinceton Chert1 aLittle, Stefan, A1 aStockey, Ruth, A1 aPenner, Bonnie  uhttps://lauraceae.myspecies.info/node/20384