Microvictoria

Microvictoria svitkoana is a fossil species of aquatic plant, which occurred in the Cretaceous period of New Jersey, USA.[1]

Microvictoria
Temporal range: Turonian, late Cretaceous[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Order: Nymphaeales
Family: Nymphaeaceae
Genus: †Microvictoria
Nixon, Gandolfo & Crepet[1]
Species:
†M. svitkoana
Binomial name
†Microvictoria svitkoana
Nixon, Gandolfo & Crepet[1]

Description

Generative characteristics

The pedunculate, actinomorphic flowers are 2.3-3.4 mm long, and 1.2-1.6 mm wide. The peduncle is 0.4-1.8 mm long. Both staminoids and fertile stamens are present.[1]

Taxonomy

Publication

It was published by Maria Alejandra Gandolfo, Kevin C. Nixon, and William L. Crepet in 2004.[1]

Type specimen

The type specimen was collected in the Old Crossman Clay Pit, Sayreville, New Jersey, USA.[1]

Position within Nymphaeales

It is placed in the family Nymphaeaceae.[1] This placement has been questioned by different authors, who believe it may be placed outside of the order Nymphaeales.[2][3]

Etymology

The generic name Microvictoria expresses an affinity to the extant genus Victoria. The specific epithet svitkoana honours Jennifer L. Svitko,[1] a lab technician of the Cornell University.[4][5]

Ecology

Pollination

It was pollinated by insects.[6]

References
  1. Gandolfo, M. A., Nixon, K. C., & Crepet, W. L. (2004). "Cretaceous flowers of Nymphaeaceae and implications for complex insect entrapment pollination mechanisms in early angiosperms." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 101(21), 8056-8060.
  2. Friis, E. M., Crane, P. R., & Pedersen, K. R. (2011). "Early Flowers and angiosperm evolution." p. 204. Cambridge University Press.
  3. Löhne, C. (2006). "Molecular Phylogenetics and Historical Biogeography of Basal Angiosperms – A Case Study in Nymphaeales" [Dissertation, Rheinischen Friedrich–Wilhelms–Universität Bonn].
  4. Jennifer Svitko. (n.d.). Cornell CALS. Retrieved February 6, 2024, from https://cals.cornell.edu/jennifer-svitko
  5. Lab members. (n.d.). Cornell University. Retrieved February 6, 2024, from http://bhort.bh.cornell.edu/histology/memb.html
  6. Angiosperm Pollination. (2021, August 24). Digital Atlas of Ancient Life. Retrieved February 6, 2024, from https://www.digitalatlasofancientlife.org/learn/embryophytes/angiosperms/angiosperm_pollination/
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