Seed cones of Tsuga (Pinaceae) from the upper Miocene of eastern China: Biogeographic and paleoclimatic implications
2021
Ding, Su-Ting | Wu, Jing-Yu | Tang, De-Liang | Chen, Shu-Yang | Mo, Lin-Bo | Sun, Bai-Nian
Six well-preserved seed cones of Tsuga with fine bract-scale complexes were discovered from the late Miocene (Tortonian; 9.2–10.8 Ma) deposits of the Shengxian Formation at the border of Ninghai and Tiantai County, Zhejiang Province, eastern China. The fossil cones possess ovate to elliptic shape, spirally arranged and obovate-orbicular ovuliferous scales, and cuneate-rhombic bracts hidden behind the scales with 2-lobed apex. Based on detailed comparison with extant and fossil cones of Tsuga, the present fossils are assigned to Tsuga cf. dumosa (D. Don) Eichler. The discovery of the fossil cones indicate that Tsuga had a wider distribution during the late Miocene than at the present. The increase of the difference in temperature between the coldest and warmest months since the late Miocene had forced Tsuga to retreat from eastern Zhejiang.
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