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Early Cretaceous Archaeamphora is not a carnivorous angiosperm.
William Oki Wong1, David Leonard Dilcher2, Conrad C Labandeira3
1State Key Laboratory of Systematic and Evolutionary Botany, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing, China.
Frontiers in Plant Science
|May 23, 2015
Summary
Archaeamphora longicervia, previously thought to be a pitcher plant, is reclassified as insect-induced leaf galls. These galls belong to the gymnosperm Liaoningocladus boii from the Early Cretaceous Yixian Formation.
Area of Science:
- Paleobotany
- Insect-plant interactions
- Mesozoic flora
Background:
- Archaeamphora longicervia was described as a Sarraceniaceae-like pitcher plant from the Early Cretaceous Yixian Formation.
- Previous interpretations suggested it was a carnivorous angiosperm.
Purpose of the Study:
- To re-investigate the identity and morphology of Archaeamphora longicervia.
- To clarify its taxonomic placement and ecological role.
Main Methods:
- Re-examination of fossil specimens of Archaeamphora longicervia.
- Morphological analysis of the structures previously identified as pitchers.
Main Results:
- The putative pitchers of Archaeamphora are identified as insect-induced leaf galls.
- These galls exhibit a three-component structure: larval chamber, nutritive tissue, and sclerenchymatous wall.
- Archaeamphora is reclassified as galled leaves of the gymnosperm Liaoningocladus boii.
Conclusions:
- Archaeamphora longicervia is not a carnivorous plant but represents insect-galled leaves.
- This finding revises our understanding of plant-insect interactions in the Early Cretaceous Yixian Formation.
- The study highlights the importance of re-evaluating fossil plant identifications.
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