Supplementary material. A synthesis of Gnetalean macrofossil species from the Early Cretaceous
Species
Nomenclature
Distribution
Literature
Comments
Alloephedra xingxueii J.R.
Tao et Y. Yang
Syn.: Ephedra xingxuei
(J.R. Tao et Y. Yang) Liu et
al. in Taxon, 57: 580. 2008
Dalazi Formation.
Aptian-Albian, Early
Cretaceous. Jilin Province,
China
Jehol (Yixian Formation?),
western Liaoning of China
Tao &
Yang 2003
Jianshangou Bed, Yixian
Formation, Early
Cretaceous
(Barremian-early Aptian?).
China
Jianshangou Bed, Yixian
Formation, Early
Cretaceous
(Barremian-early Aptian?).
China
Jianshangou Bed, Yixian
Formation, Early
Cretaceous
Sun et al.
2001
The female cone shows general features of
Ephedraceae, but the foliar organs and
branching patterns seem alternate thus
Alloephedra differs from known Ephedra.
This is a shoot preserved with no details,
probably close to Prognetella minuta
Krassilov et Bugdaeva, exact relationships
cannot be determined due to unclear
reproductive morphology.
A female cone is globose or nearly so, the
apices of bracts are specialized into long
spines.
Amphiephedra rhamnoides
Miki
Beipiaoa parva Dilcher et al.
Beipiaoa rotunda Dilcher et
al.
Beipiaoa spinosa Dilcher et
al.
Miki 1964
Sun et al.
2001
Sun et al.
2001
A female cone is globose or nearly so, the
apices of bracts are specialized into long
spines. This species is better incorporated
into Beipiaoa parva due to their overall
similarities.
A female cone is globose or nearly so, the
apices of bracts are specialized into long
spines.
Chengia elegans (G. Sun et
S.L. Zheng) Y. Yang et Q.
Wang, comb. nov.
Chengia laxispicata Y. Yang
et al.
Drewria potomacensis
Crane et Upchurch
Ephedra
archaeorhytidosperma Y.
Yang et al.
Ephedra carnosa Y. Yang et
Q. Wang
Basionym: Ephedrites
elegans G. Sun et S.L.
Zheng in Sun et al., Early
Angiosperms and their
associated plants from
western Liaoning, China,
207. 2001.
(Barremian-early Aptian?).
China
Yixian Formation, western
Liaoning of China;
Gurvan-Eren Formation of
Mongolia
An Ephedroid reproductive shoot possesses
loosely arranged female spikes. The
Potamogeton-like spike in Krassilov (1982)
may belong to this species.
Dawangzhangzi Bed, Yixian
Formation, Early
Cretaceous
(Barremian-early Aptian?).
China
Potomac Group. Pollen
Zone I, Early Cretaceous
(early Aptian). USA
Yang et al.
2013
An Ephedroid reproductive shoot bears
terminal or axillary female spikes with
multiple pairs of fertile bracts, internodes of
the cone axis are prominent.
Crane &
Upchurch
1987
Jianshangou Bed, Yixian
Formation, Early
Cretaceous
(Barremian-early Aptian?).
China
Jianshangou Bed, Yixian
Formation, Early
Cretaceous
Yang et al.
2005
This species is intermediate between
Ephedra and Welwitschia, its habit is close to
Ephedra, but its leaf form and venation are
close to Welwitschia.
An Ephedroid reproductive shoot has
reduced female cones with only 1(-2?) pairs
of bracts enclosing 1-2 seeds.
Yang &
Wang
2013
A fleshy female cone of Ephedra contains 2-3
FRUs/seeds. Each FRU possesses a thin
outer envelope, the inner integument is
Ephedra drewriensis Rydin
et al.
Ephedra hongtaoi X. Wang
et S.L. Zheng
Ephedra portugallica Rydin
et al.
Ephedra verticillata Cladera
et al.
Ephedrispermum
lusitanicum Rydin et al.
Erenia stenoptera Krassilov
Syn.: Callianthus dilae
Wang et Zheng in J. Int.
Plant Biol., 51: 800. 2009.
(Barremian-early Aptian?).
China
Patuxent Formation,
Potomac Group. Pollen
Zone I, Early Cretaceous
(early Aptian). USA
Dawangzhangzi Bed, Yixian
Formation, Early
Cretaceous
(Barremian-early Aptian?).
China
Calvaria Member, Figueira
da Foz Formation. Early
Cretaceous (late Aptian or
early Albian). Portugal
the Anfiteatro de Tico
Formation (Baquero
Group), Early Aptian.
Argentina
Calvaria Member, Figueira
da Foz Formation. Early
Cretaceous (late Aptian or
early Albian). Portugal
the Yixian Formation,
western Liaoning of China;
the Gurvan-Eren Formation
elongated into the micropylar tube.
Rydin et
al. 2006a
Ephedroid seeds have in situ pollen.
Wang &
Zheng
2010
An Ephedroid shrubby plant bears young
female cones terminally on twigs. Each cone
possesses a pair of bracts enclosing 2
FRUs/seeds. Each FRU has an apical
micropylar tube.
Ephedroid seeds have in situ pollen.
Rydin et
al. 2006a
Cladera et
al. 2007
An Ephedroid reproductive shoot has stems
with verticillate branches and terminal seed
cones. Each cone has two FRUs/seeds.
Rydin et
al. 2006a
Ephedroid seeds have in situ pollen.
Krassilov
1982
Wu (1999) correctly identified the plant from
the Yixian Formation but Wang & Zheng
(2009) erected it as a new genus. This
of Mongolia
Friedsellowia gracifolia
Löwe et al.
Gurvanella dictyoptera
Krassilov
Syn.: Chaoyangia liangii
Duan in Sci. China, 41: 14.
1998; Gurvanella exquisita
G. Sun et al., Early
Angiosperms and their
associated plants from
western Liaoning, China,
Crato Formation, Araripe
Basin, Open air pit south of
Nova Olinda near Santana
do Cariri, State of Ceará,
Brazil
Mohr et al.
2007;
Löwe et al.
2013
Yixian Formation, western
Liaoning of China; the
Gurvan-Eren Formation of
Mongolia. Early
Cretaceous.
Krassilov
1982
species includes fleshy cones that are
bisexual or unisexual. It is quite amazing that
the male reproductive units persisted when
the bracts got fleshy if the previous reports
are accepted (Wang & Zheng 2009).
Fleshiness is probably an indicator of mature
cones.
A monoecious plant bears both male and
female cones. Male cones are terminal to
twigs and have many pairs of bracts. Female
cones are sessile and sit amidst twigs
bearing the male cones, and possess
multiple fertile whorls of bracts that are
arranged in whorls of four or in pairs of two.
Löwe et al. (2013) thought this plant is close
to Welwitschia in the female cones bearing
multiple whorls of fertile bracts and the leaf
venation, however, it is noticeable that there
are many other differences.
This species was first found from Early
Cretaceous of Mongolia, but later recorded in
the Yixian Formation. Dispersed female
cones are common, but reproductive shoots
are rare. Krassilov (1982) thought this
species might have been living on slopes.
207. 2001.
Khitania columnispicata
Guo et al.
Liaoxia acutiformis Rydin,
S.Q. Wu et Friis
Liaoxia changii Rydin, S.Q.
Wu et Friis
Syn.: “Eragrosites changii
Cao et Wu” in Chin. Sci.
Bull. 43: 231. 1998. nom.
inval.
Liaoxia cheniae (S.X. Guo
et X.W. Wu) Rydin, S.Q. Wu
et Friis
Syn.: Ephedra cheniae
(S.X. Guo et X.W. Wu) Liu
et al. in Taxon, 57: 578.
2008; Ephedrites cheniae
S.X. Guo et X.W. Wu in Acta
Palaeontol. Sin. 39: 82.
2000, pro parte
Liaoxia elongata Rydin,
S.Q. Wu et Friis
Jianshangou Bed, Yixian
Formation, Early
Cretaceous
(Barremian-early Aptian?).
China
Dawangzhangzi Bed, Yixian
Formation, Early
Cretaceous
(Barremian-early Aptian?).
China
Jianshangou Bed, Yixian
Formation, Early
Cretaceous
(Barremian-early Aptian?).
China
Jianshangou Bed, Yixian
Formation, Early
Cretaceous
(Barremian-early Aptian?).
China
Guo et al.
2009
A very compact spike with many circular rings
shows affinity to the male cone of Gnetum.
Rydin et
al. 2006b
An Ephedroid reproductive shoot has female
cones with 6-12 pairs of bracts and linear
leaves with two parallel veins.
Rydin et
al. 2006b
Dawangzhangzi Bed, Yixian
Formation, Early
Rydin et
al. 2006b
An Ephedroid reproductive shoot possesses
terminal female cones with 6-10 pairs of
bracts. It was merged into Ephedrites
cheniae by Guo & Wu (2000), but retained as
a separate species in Rydin et al. (2006b).
This is a well-known ephedroid fossil species
from the Yixian Formation. Its nomenclature
is quite complicated (Yang 2007, 2010).
Cyperacites sp. in Krassilov (1982) definitely
belongs to this species. This species is an
Ephedroid reproductive shoot having female
cones with 2-6 pairs of bracts and linear
leaves with two parallel veins.
An Ephedroid reproductive shoot has female
cones with 8-12 pairs of bracts.
Rydin et
al. 2006b
Liaoxia jeholensis (Yabe et
Endô) Y. Yang et Q. Wang,
comb. nov.
Basionym: Potamogeton
jeholensis Yabe et Endô in
Proceedings of the Imperial
Academy, 11(7): 274. Figs.
1-2. 1935.
Syn.: Ranunculus
jeholensis (Yabe et Endô)
Miki in Bull. Mukogawa 12:
S19, 1964. syn. nov.
Liaoxia longibractea Rydin,
S.Q. Wu et Friis
Liaoxia robusta Rydin, S.Q.
Wu et Friis
Priscowelwitschia
austroamericana (Dilcher et
Syn.: Welwitschiella
austroamericana Dilcher et
al. in Amer. J. Bot. 92: 1299.
Cretaceous
(Barremian-early Aptian?).
China
Yixian Formation, western
Liaoning of China
Dawangzhangzi Bed, Yixian
Formation, Early
Cretaceous
(Barremian-early Aptian?).
China
Jianshangou Bed, Yixian
Formation, Early
Cretaceous
(Barremian-early Aptian?).
China
Crato Formation. Late
Aptian. Northeastern Brazil.
Yabe &
Endô
1935; Miki
1964
Rydin et
al. 2006b
An Ephedroid reproductive shoot bears
opposite and decussate phyllotaxy and
terminal female cones. Sun et al. (2001)
merged this species with Ephedrites cheniae
(as “chenii”) which would have resulted in a
nomenclatural change of Ephedrites cheniae
into Ephedrites jeholensis because the
specific epithet “jeholensis” is earlier than
“cheniae”. Here we make a new combination
because this species bears reproductive
characters different from those of L. cheniae.
An Ephedroid reproductive shoot has female
cones with 1-2 pairs of bracts.
Rydin et
al. 2006b
An Ephedroid reproductive shoot has female
cones with 4-10 pairs of bracts, and linear
leaves probably bearing 3-4 parallel veins.
Dilcher et
al. 2005
A plant is explained as cotyledonary
seedlings of Welwitschiaceae, however,
al.) Dilcher et al.
Prognetella minuta
Krassilov et Bugdaeva
2005, nom. illegit., non
Welwitschiella O. Hoffmann,
in Engler and Prantl, Nat.
Pflanzenfam. 4(5): 390.
1894 (Asteraceae), nec
Welwitschiella Engler in Bot.
Jahrb. Syst. 26: 416. 1899
(Menispermaceae).
Syn.: Baicarpus gracilis
Gang Han et al. in Acta
Geol Sin 87: 920. 2013. pro
parte, PB21629; B. robusta
Gang Han et al., l.c. 921.
shows extreme similarity with fruits of the
Tropical Asian Hoppea spp. of
Dipterocarpaceae.
Krassilov
&
Bugdaeva
1999
A reproductive shoot has leaf-like bracts each
subtending an axillary sessile female
reproductive unit, each leaf/bract is provided
with 2 (rarely 4) parallel veins. This species
was preserved frequently as detached
diaspores.
Diaspores were previously described as
angiosperms, is actually an early
Ephedraceae.
Siphonospermum simplex
C. Rydin et E.M. Friis
the Yixian Formation,
western Liaoning of China;
the Baisa locality in the
upper reaches of the Vitim
River, Transbaikalia of
Mongolia
Jianshangou Bed, Yixian
Formation, Early
Cretaceous
(Barremian-early Aptian?).
China
the Yixian Formation,
western Liaoning of China
Rydin &
Friis 2010
Welwitschiophyllum
brasiliense Dilcher et al.
Welwitschiostrobus murili
Dilcher et al.
Crato Formation. Late
Aptian. Northeastern Brazil.
Crato Formation. Late
Aptian. Northeastern Brazil.
Dilcher et
al. 2005
Dilcher et
al. 2005
An Ephedroid reproductive shoot has female
reproductive units terminal to twigs and linear
leaves with three parallel veins.
A Welwitschia-like leaf is lanceolate and has
many fine longitudinal parallel veins.
A reproductive shoot bears terminal male
cones similar to Welwitschia mirabilis.
Prognetella gracilis (Gang
Han et al.) Y. Yang et Q.
Wang
Doubtful species
Basionym: Baicarpus
gracilis Gang Han et al. in
Acta Geol Sin 87: 920.
2013. pro parte, excl.
PB21629.
1. Ephedrites guozhongiana G. Sun et S.L. Zheng was described in Sun et al. (2001) from the Yixian Formation.
It is definitely not Ephedraceae, but may be related to ferns.
2. Leongathia elegans Krassilov et al. (1998) is a vegetative shoot from the Lower Cretaceous of Koonwarra
Fossil Bed, Victoria, Australia.
3. Qataniaria noae Krassilov from the Upper Hatira Formation of Makhtesh, Qatan of Israel (Krassilov & Schrank
2011) bears vegetative and reproductive characters unlike those of Ephedraceae.
4. Cearania heterophylla Kunzmann et al. (2009) and Cariria orbiculiconiformis Kunzmann et al. (2011) are two
macrofossil species from the Early Cretaceous with uncertain relationships within the Gnetales.