Banksieaeidites

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iBanksieaeidites
Conservation status
Extinct (fossil)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Proteales
Family: Proteaceae
Tribe: Banksieae
Genus: Banksieaeidites
Cookson
Species

See text

Banksieaeidites is a plant genus that encompasses fossil pollen that can be attributed to the Proteaceae subtribe Banksiinae, but cannot be allocated at genus level. This taxon is necessary because the Banksiinae genera, Banksia and Dryandra, cannot be distinguished on pollen characteristics.[1] It was erected in 1950 by Isabel Cookson, based on pollen specimens in Australian Tertiary deposits. At that time, Banksia and Dryandra were the only genera in tribe Banksieae. Since then, they have been further grouped into subtribe Banksiinae, and another subtribe, Musgraveinae, erected. In line with the intentions of Cookson, Banksieaeidites is now defined as encompassing fossil pollen that can be attributed to the Banksiinae; thus its name is no longer particularly appropriate.

Species include

  • Banksieaeidites arcuatus
  • Banksieaeidites elongatus
  • Banksieaeidites minimus

[edit] See also

  • Banksieaephyllum, a genus for specimens of organically preserved fossil leaves that can be attributed to subtribe Banksiinae, but not to a genus.
  • Banksieaeformis, a genus for fossil leaves with the same architecture as Banksieaephyllum, but without organic detail; like Banksieaephyllum, these can be attributed to subtribe Banksiinae, but not to a genus.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Cookson, Isabel C. (1950). "Fossil Pollen Grains of Proteaceous Type from Tertiary Deposits in Australia". Australian Journal of Scientific Research, Series B (Biological Sciences) 3 (2): 166–177.
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