Bot. Bull. Acad. Sin. (1998) 38: 69_80

Shaw — Eocene Ephedraceous palynomorphs of Taiwan

Eocene Ephedraceous palynomorphs of Taiwan

Cheng-Long Shaw

National Museum of Prehistory Planning Bureau, Taitung, Taiwan, Republic of China

(Received February 17, 1997; Accepted October 9, 1997)

Abstract. Twenty-two taxa of the form genus Ephedripites, the fossil gymnospermous palynomorphs of Ephedra, are described from Eocene sediments offshore from the Keelong area in northern Taiwan. Twelve new species and three new varieties in Taiwan are described.

Keywords: Eocene Ephedraceous palynomorphs; Taiwan area; Taxonomy.

Introduction

Ephedra, a truly xerophytic genus, grows best on sandy or rocky sites such as deserts and mountains. Ephedripites (named for the fossil pollen of Ephedra) is distributed sporadically in the Mio-Pliocene formations of Taiwan (Chaw, 1980; Huang, 1981; Shaw, 1984). This study shows that Ephedripites is also present in Eocene sediments in the area.

Gnetales, the most advanced order of the subclass Coniferophytae, is represented at present by three genera Ephedra, Gnetum, and Welwitschia. Because their pollen and plant bodies all have large differences, each one can clearly be distinguished as a family. The furrow is absent in Ephedripites, and we can theorize that the plicate condition permits the exit of the pollen tube to be between any of the ribs. Pollen grains of the genera Vittatina and Costapollenites from the Permian are somewhat similar to those of the genus Welwitschia, and Ephedra-like pollen has been found in rocks ranging in age from the Triassic to the present (Tschudy, 1969). The macrofossil evidence of Ephedraceae extends back only as far as the Cretaceous (Chaloner, 1969).

The palynological investigation of Eocene sedimentary rocks in Taiwan began in 1988. A total of eighteen cores of Eocene age offshore from the Keelong area in northern Taiwan were collected. These samples were brought to the Chinese Petroleum Corporation Micropaleontological Laboratory for the preparation of pollen slides. On examination, many fossil palynomorphs were identified, the description of which began in 1990. The first part of the work on the Ephedraceous palynomorphs is now being published, although the work is still continuing. When the taxonomic findings of the fossil palynomorphs are completed, the author plans to report them in a subsequent publication. The last complete report will include a checklist of the Eocene fossil flora and pollen stratigraphy of the offshore Keelong area.

The taxonomic treatment of Tertiary fossil palynomorphs has been debated by many palynologists for a long time (Faegri et al., 1964; Huang and Chen, 1967;

Boulter, 1979). In this paper, I have adopted artificial form generic names for nomenclature.

Materials and Methods

Cores samples from the OK-1 well offshore from the Keelong area in northern Taiwan were made available to the author (Figure 1). A total of eighteen side wall cores were prepared by the Chinese Petroleum Corporation Micropaleontological Laboratory for a palynological study.

The extraction of fossil palynomorphs was made by using the method of the author (Shaw, 1984), including the treatment of 10% KOH for the dissolution of humic material. Heavy solution of ZnCl2 for flotation (S. G. 1.8_2.2) and also 30% of HCl, 52% of HF were used for maceration of the laterite pebble samples, which were collected from the exploration well.

Photomicrographs were taken with a Zeiss Axiophot microscope equipped with an automatic camera using

Figure 1. Locality map of OK-1 well in the Keelong area offshore of Taiwan.


Botanical Bulletin of Academia Sinica, Vol. 39, 1998

Kodacolor Gold (ASA 100) film. For fossil identification, the standard references used by Krutzsch (1971), Jansonius and Hills (1976), Huang (1976, 1979, 1981), Sung and Tsao (1978), Zhu et al. (1985), were adopted. The fossil slides are catalogued and stored at the Micropaleontology Laboratory, Chinese Petroleum Corporation.

Results and Discussion

Twelve taxa of Ephedripites are distributed sporadically in the Miocene-Pliocene formations of middle and northern Taiwan (Chaw, 1980; Huang, 1981; Shaw, 1984). Surprisingly enough, twenty-two taxa of Ephedripites appear in the Eocene formation offshore from the Keelong area of northern Taiwan. Good and accurate taxonomic treatment is important for biostratigraphy. In the process of continually building up knowledge of the Eocene microflora of Taiwan, this paper reports one family, one form genus, and twenty-two taxa of the Eocene fossil gymnospermous palynomorphs. Twelve new species, and three new varieties are described from the OK-1 well drilled in the Keelong area.

Systematic Taxonomic Treatment

Order Gnetales, Family Ephedraceae, Genus Ephedripites Bolkhovitina, 1953 ex Potonié 1958.

Type species: Ephedripites mediolobatus Bolkhovitina ex Potonié 1958.

Diagnosis: Grains ellipsoidal to fusiform, with 3_12 longitudinal ridges.

Key to the Subgenus (Compiled from Krutzsch 1961, 1971)

1. Grains encircled type; surface view striate Subgenus Spiralipites

1. Grains plicate type; surface view ridges.

2. Cross-grid pattern between grooves present Subgenus Distachyapites

2. Cross-grid pattern between grooves absent Subgenus Ephedripites

EPHEDRIPITES subgen. DISTACHYAPITES Krutzsch 1961, Geologie, Beiheft 32, p. 20.—TYPE species: Ephedripites (Distachyapites) eocenipites (Wodehouse) Krutzsch., I.c., p. 27.

Diagnosis: "Ephedroid pollen with a low number of ribs (approx. 3_8) and with a zig-zag line between the ribs; ribs are usually straight or slightly sinuous but strongly spiraling."

Key to the Species (Compiled from Huang, 1981; Shaw, 1984; Sung & Tsao, 1978; Zhu et Wu, 1985 and this study)

1. Grains in equatorial view subprolate to perprolate, with obtuse angle.

2. Grains large, more than 45 µ in length.

3. Grain length over width larger than 2.2.

4. Grain ridge 1.5_2 µ thick 2. E. (D.) parafusiformis var. taiwanensis

4. Grain ridge less then 1 µ thick 10. E. (D.) membranus

3. Grain length over width less than 2.0 1. E. (D.) eocenipites var. formosensis

2. Grains small, less than 40 µ in length.

5. Grain ridge less then 3 µ thick.

6. Grains large, prolate, more than 30 µ in length 3. E. (D.) scabridus

6. Grains small, subprolate, less than 29 µ in length 4. E. (D.) formosanus

5. Grain ridge more than 3 µ thick .

7. Grains large, more than 28_33 × 16_20 µ 5. E. (D.) fushunensis

7. Grains small, less than 23 × 14 µ 6. E. (D.) fushunensis minimus

1. Grains in equatorial view lenticular, with acute angle.

8. Grain length over width larger than 2.6.

9. Grains large, more than 50 µ in length 9. E. (D.) quadriplicatus

9. Grains small, less than 50 µ in length 7. E. (D.) baculatus

8. Grain length over width less than 2.6.

10. Grain ridge 2 µ thick 8. E. (D.) miocenus

10. Grain ridge less then 1 µ thick 11. E. (D.) nanlingensis

1. Ephedripites (D.) eocenipites (Wodehouse) Krutzsch, 1961 var. formosensis Shaw, var. nov. Figure 2A_F

Holotype: Slide OK-1 1365- (1); Figure 2A_B; film P13-35-36, P13-34-35; CPC Micropaleontology Lab.

Description: Grains with 4_5 ridges; prolate, the pole rounded; fusiform; 46_55 × 26_28 µ, grooves as long as the P axes; grain length over width about 1.7_2; exine psilate; sexine with distinct cross-grid; ridges 1_1.5 µ thick.

Stratigraphic occurrence: Eocene (OK-1 well, 1,365 m).

Taxonomic affinity: This species and the other ten species described in this section are similar to the extant species of Ephedra.

Comment: This variety differs from the typical variety in having a smaller size.

Note. This species is named after the Formosa island of the type locality.

2. Ephedripites (D.) parafusiformis Zhu & Wu, 1985 var. taiwanensis Shaw, var. nov.

Figure 2G_H and Figure 3A_B


Shaw — Eocene Ephedraceous palynomorphs of Taiwan

Figure 2. A_F, Ephedripites (D.) eocenipites (Wodehouse) Krutzsch var. formosensis Shaw var. nov. (Film P13:35-36, P13:34-35, S9:38, S9:37, S5:24, S5:25); G_H, Ephedripites (D.) parafusiformis Zhu & Wu var. taiwanensis Shaw var. nov. (Film S6:9, S6-10); I_J, Ephedripites (D.) scabridus (Wodehouse) Krutzsch (Film S7:23, S7-24); K_L, Ephedripites (D.) formosanus Shaw sp. nov. (Film S8:2, S8-1). (All ×1150)

Holotype: Slide OK-1 1768- (5); Figure 3A_B; film S5-22, S5-23; CPC Micropaleontology Lab.

Description: Grains with 4-ridges; prolate, the pole rounded; fusiform; 50_67 × 17_21 µ, grooves as long as the P axes; grain length over width about 2.3_3.3; exine

psilate; sexine with distinct cross-grid; ridges 1_1.5 µ thick.

Stratigraphic occurrence: Eocene (OK-1 well, 1,768 m).

Comment: This variety differs from the typical variety in having a smaller size.


Botanical Bulletin of Academia Sinica, Vol. 39, 1998

Note. This species is named after the Taiwan area of the type locality.

3. Ephedripites (D.) scabridus Song & Zheng, 1981. Figure 2I_J

Holotype: Slide OK-1 1669- (1); film S7:23, S7:24; CPC Micropaleontology Lab.

Description: Grains with 4_5 ridges; prolate, the pole rounded; fusiform; 38 × 22 µ, grooves as long as the P axes; grain length over width about 1.7_1.8; exine psilate; sexine with distinct cross-grid; ridges 1.5_2 µ thick.

Stratigraphic occurrence: Eocene (OK-1 well, 1,669 m).

4. Ephedripites (D.) formosanus Shaw, sp. nov.

Figure 2K_L

Holotype: Slide OK-1 1638- (2); Figure 2K_L; film S8:1, S8:2; CPC Micropaleontology Lab.

Description: Grains with 4_5 ridges; subprolate, the pole rounded; fusiform; 28_30 × 19_21 µ, grooves as long as the P axes; grain length over width about 1.4_1.5; exine psilate; sexine with distinct cross-grid; ridges 1.5_2 µ thick.

Stratigraphic occurrence: Eocene (OK-1 well, 1,638 m).

Comment: This species differs from Ephedripies (D.) fushunensis Sung & Tsao by having thinner ridges 1.5_2 µ and a smaller size.

Note. This species is named after the Formosa island of the type locality.

5. Ephedripites (D.) fushunensis Sung & Tsao, 1978. Figure 3E_J

Holotype: Slide OK-1 1545- (1); film P10-29-28, P10-30-29; CPC Micropaleontology Lab.

Description: Grains with 4-ridges; prolate, the pole rounded; fusiform; 28_33 × 16_20 µ, grooves as long as the P axes; grain length over width about 1.4_1.7; exine flat verrucate; sexine with distinct cross-grid; ridges 3_4 µ thick.

Stratigraphic occurrence: Eocene (OK-1 well, 1,545 m).

6. Ephedripites (D.) fushunensis Sung & Tsao, 1978 var. minimus Shaw, sp. nov. Figure 3K_L

Holotype: Slide OK-1 1669- (4); film S6:29, S6: 28; CPC Micropaleontology Lab.

Description: Grains with 4-ridges; subprolate-prolate, the pole rounded; fusiform; 22_24 × 13_15 µ, grooves as long as the P axes; grain length over width about 1.4; exine flat verrucate; sexine with distinct cross-grid; ridges 3 µ thick.

Stratigraphic occurrence: Eocene (OK-1 well, 1,669 m).

Comment: This variety differs from the typical variety in having a smaller size.

Note. This species is named after the minimus size of the pollen.

7. Ephedripites (D.) baculatus Zhu et Wu, 1985. Figure 4A_F

Holotype: Slide OK-1 1699-bl-(1); film P8-4-7, P8-5-8; CPC Micropaleontology Lab.

Description: Grains with 4-ridges; perprolate, the pole acute; fusiform; 44_49 × 13_18 µ, grooves as long as the P axes; grains length over width about 2.7_3.5; exine psilate; sexine with distinct cross-grid; exine 1.5_2 µ thick.

Stratigraphic occurrence: Eocene (OK-1 well, 1,669 m).

8. Ephedripites (D.) miocenus Huang & Chaw, 1981. Figure 4I_L

Holotype: Slide OK-1 1699-bl-(1); Figure 4I_J; film P8-7-10, P8-8-11; CPC Micropaleontology Lab.

Description: Grains with 4 ridges; perprolate, the pole acute; fusiform; 44_48 × 18_24 µ, grooves as long as the P axes; grain length over width about 1.9_2.5; exine psilate; sexine with distinct cross-grid; ridges 1.5_2 µ thick.

Stratigraphic occurrence: Eocene (OK-1 well, 1,669 m).

9. Ephedripites (D.) quadriplicatus Shaw, 1984. Figure 7A_B

Holotype: Slide OK-1 1545-(1); film P10-18-17, P10-17-16; CPC Micropaleontology Lab.

Description: Grains with 4-ridges; perprolate, the pole acute; fusiform; 58_62 × 19_22 µ, grooves as long as the P axes; grain length over width about 2.8; exine psilate; sexine with distinct cross-grid; ridges 1.5_2 µ thick.

Stratigraphic occurrence: Eocene (OK-1 well, 1,545 m)

10. Ephedripites (D.) membranus Shaw, sp. nov. Figure 3C_D

Holotype: Slide OK-1 1669- (4); film S6-18, S6-19; CPC Micropaleontology Lab.

Description: Grains with 4-ridges; prolate to perprolate, the pole rounded; fusiform; 54 × 24 µ, grooves as long as the P axes; grain length over width about 2.3; exine psilate; sexine with distinct cross-grid; the ridge 1 µ thick or less.

Stratigraphic occurrence: Eocene (OK-1 well, 1,669 m).

Comment: This species differs from other species by having thinner ridges about 1 µ thick and membrane-like exine.

Note. This species is named after the membranous character of the exine.

11. Ephedripites (D.) nanlingensis Sun & He, 1980. Figure 4G_H and Figure 7C_D

Holotype: Slide OK-1 1669-(1); film S7:25, S7:26; CPC Micropaleontology Lab.

Description: Grains with 4_5 ridges; prolate, the pole acute; fusiform; 50_57 × 22_25 µ, grooves as long as the P axes; grain length over width about 2.1_2.3; exine


Shaw — Eocene Ephedraceous palynomorphs of Taiwan

Ephedripites (Ephedripites) mediolobatus Bolkhovitina ex Potonié 1958.

Diagnosis: "Ephedroid pollen with numerous ribs, in part spiralling along the longest axis; without characteristic Z-line, never with side branches; dehiscene slit very rare."

psilate; sexine with distinct cross-grid; the ridge 1_1.5 µ thick.

Stratigraphic occurrence: Eocene (OK-1 well, 1,669 m)

EPHEDRIPITES subgen. EPHEDRIPITES Krutzsch 1961, Geologie, Beiheft 32, p. 20.—TYPE species:

Figure 3. A_B, Ephedripites (D.) parafusiformis Zhu & Wu var. taiwanensis Shaw var. nov. (Film S5:23, S5:22); C_D, Ephedripites (D.) membranus Shaw sp. nov. (Film S6:19, S6:18); E_J, Ephedripites (D.) fushunensis Sung & Tsao (Film P10:29-28, P10:30-29, P10:5-4, P10:6-5, P14:5-6, P14:6-7); K_L, Ephedripites (D.) fushunensis Sung & Tsao var. minimus Shaw var. nov. (Film S6:29, S6-28). (All ×1150)


Botanical Bulletin of Academia Sinica, Vol. 39, 1998

Figure 4. A_F, Ephedripites (D.) baculatus Zhu et Wu (Film P8:5-8, P8:4-7, S7:13, S7-14, P6:18-20, P6:17-19); G_H, Ephedripites (D.) nanlingensis Sun & He (Film S6:15, S6:6-14); I_L, Ephedripites (D.) miocenus Huang & Chaw (Film P8:7-10, P8:8-11, P5:22-24, P5-23-25). (All ×1150)

Key to the Species (Compiled from Huang, 1976 and this study)

1. Grains in equatorial view perprolate, length over width larger than 2.6.

2. Grains with 5 or more ridges, exine smooth.

3. Grains large, more than 40 µ in length.

4. Grains more than 50 µ in length 1. E. (E.) gracilis

4. Grains less than 50 µ in length 2. E. (E.) taiwanensis

3. Grains small, less than 40 µ in length 5. E. (E.) minor


Shaw — Eocene Ephedraceous palynomorphs of Taiwan

2. Grains with 4 ridges, exine scabrate 4. E. (E.) scabratus

1. Grains in equatorial view prolate, length over width less than 2.3.

5. Grains with 10 or more ridges 7. E. (E.) polyplicatus

5. Grains ridges less than 10, exine scabrate.

6. Grains with 7_9 ridges, some of the ridges undulate 6. E. (E.) olivaeformis

6. Grains with 5_6 ridges, the ridges not as above 3. E. (E.) angularis

1. Ephedripites (E.) gracilis Shaw, sp. nov. Figure 5A_D

Holotype: Slide OK-1 1669- (3); Figure 5A_B; film S5-26, S5-27; CPC Micropaleontology Lab.

Description: Grains with 6_9 ridges; perprolate, the pole rounded to acute; 55_60 × 14_16 µ grooves as long as the P axes; grain length over width about 3.6_3.9; cross-grid absent; ridges 1.5 µ thick.

Stratigraphic occurrence: Eocene (OK-1 well, 1,669 m).

Taxonomic affinity: This species and the other six species described in this section are similar to the extant species of Ephedra.

Comment: This species differs from other species in having a larger size (more than 55 µ) and grains in equatorial view perprolate.

Note. This species is named after the graceful shape of the pollen.

2. Ephedripites (E.) taiwanensis Huang, 1976. Figure 5E_H

Holotype: Slide OK-1 1788-bl-(4); film P1-27-29, P1-28-30; CPC Micropaleontology Lab.

Description: Grains with 6_9 ridges; perprolate, the pole rounded to acute; 43_46 × 13_14 µ grooves as long as the P axes; grain length over width about 3.3; cross-grid absent; ridges 1.5 µ thick.

Stratigraphic occurrence: Eocene (OK-1 well, 1,788 m).

3. Ephedripites (E.) angularis Shaw, sp. nov. Figure 5K_L

Holotype: Slide OK-1 1699-bl-(2); Figure 5K_L; film P7-10-12, P7-11-13; CPC Micropaleontology Lab.

Description: Grains with 5_6 ridges; prolate, the pole acute; 33 × 15 µ; the grooves as long as the P axes; grain length over width about 2.2; exine psilate; ridges about 1.5 µ thick.

Stratigraphic occurrence: Eocene (OK-1 well, 1,669 m).

Comment: This species differs from Ephedripites (E.) olivaeformis Shaw in having fewer ridges (5_6 ridges) and ridges are not undulate.

Note. This species is named after the angulate shape of the pollen.

4. Ephedripites (E.) scabratus Shaw, sp. nov. Figure 6G_H

Holotype: Slide OK-1 1588-bl-(3); Figure 6G_H; film P9-4-6, P9-3-5; CPC Micropaleontology Lab.

Description: Grains with 4 ridges; perprolate, the pole acute; 47 × 14 µ grooves as long as the P axes; grain length over width about 3.4; cross-grid absent; exine scabrate; ridges about 1 µ thick.

Stratigraphic occurrence: Eocene (OK-1 well, 1,588 m).

Comment: This species differs from other species in having scabrate exine.

Note. This species is named after the scabrate sculpture of the exine.

5. Ephedripites (E.) minor Shaw, sp. nov. Figure 5I_J and Figure 7E_F

Holotype: Slide OK-1 1788-(5); Figure 5I_J; film S5-28, S5-29, S5-30; CPC Micropaleontology Lab.

Description: Grains with 5_6 ridges; perprolate, the pole rounded to acute; 33_38 × 10_12 µ grooves as long as the P axes; grain length over width about 3.0_3.8; cross-grid absent; the ridge 1.0 µ thick.

Stratigraphic occurrence: Eocene (OK-1 well, 1,788 m).

Comment: This species differs from Ephedripies (E.) taiwanensis Huang in having a smaller size.

Note. This species is named after the smaller size of the pollen.

6. Ephedripites (E.) olivaeformis Shaw, sp. nov. Figure 6I_L

Holotype: Slide OK-1 1768-(5); Figure 6I_J; film S7:1, S7:2; CPC Micropaleontology Lab.

Description: Grains with 7_9 ridges; prolate, pole acute; 28_33 × 17_19 µ; the grooves as long as the P axes; grain length over width about 1.6_1.8; some of the ridges dense unit wavy shape (undulate); exine psilate to scabrate; ridges 1.5 µ thick.

Stratigraphic occurrence: Eocene (OK-1 well, 1,768 m).

Comment: This species differs from Ephedripies (E.) undulatus Shaw 1984 in having fewer ridges (less than 10). Ephedripies (D.) undulosus Ke & Shi 1978 also has undulate ridges, but it belongs to another subgenus.

Note. This species is named after the olivary shape of the pollen.

7. Ephedripites (E.) polyplicatus Shaw, sp. nov. Figure 7I_L

Holotype: Slide OK-1 1638-(5); Figure 7I_J; film S8:21, S8:22; CPC Micropaleontology Lab.

Description: Grains with 12_15 ridges; prolate, the pole acute; 33_38 × 17_22 µ; the grooves as long as the P axes; grains length over width about 1.7_1.9; exine psilate; the ridge 1 µ thick.


Botanical Bulletin of Academia Sinica, Vol. 39, 1998

Figure 5. A_D, Ephedripites (E.) gracilis Shaw sp. nov. (Film S5:26, S5:27, S6:8, S6-7); E_H, Ephedripites (E.) taiwanensis Huang (Film S4:4, S4:3, P1:28-30, P1:27-29); I_J, Ephedripites (E.) minor Shaw sp. nov. (Film S5:29, S5:30); K_L, Ephedripites (E.) angularis Shaw sp. nov. (Film P7:12-14, P7-10-12). (All ×1150)

Stratigraphic occurrence: Eocene (OK-1 well, 1,638 m).

Comment: This species differs from others in having twelve or more ridges.

Note. This species is named for the frequent plication of its pollen.

EPHEDRIPITES subgen. SPIRALIPITES Krutzsch 1970, Atlas, v. 7 p. 43.—TYPE species: Ephedripites (Spiralipites) praeciarus (Khlonova) Krutzsch, ibid.

Diagnosis: "A subgenus (of Ephedripites) with numerous rotated ribs and without zig-zag lines, and mostly found in the upper Cretaceous."


Shaw — Eocene Ephedraceous palynomorphs of Taiwan

Figure 6. A_B, Ephedripites (S.) perprolatus Shaw sp. nov. (Film P7:6-8, P7:5-7); C_D Ephedripites (S.) densistriatus Shaw sp. nov. (Film P15:15-17, P15:16-18); E_F, Ephedripites (S.) pengchiahsuensis Shaw sp. nov. (Film P14:17-18, P14:18-19); G_H, Ephedripites (E.) scabratus Shaw sp. nov. (Film P9:3-5, P9:4-6); I_L, Ephedripites (E.) olivaeformis Shaw sp. nov. (Film S7:1, S7:2, S7:20, S7-19). (All ×1150)

Key to the Species

1. Grain length over width less than 3.0.

2. Grain muri in line shape, about 0.5 µ wide 3. E. (S.) densistriatus

2. Grain muri in line shape, about 2_3 µ wide.

3. Gains large, more than 55 µ in length 1. E. (S.) perprolatus

3. Grains small, less than 45 µ in length 2. E. (S.) pengchiahsuensis

1. Grain length over width larger than 3.5 4. E. (S.) tenuissimus


Botanical Bulletin of Academia Sinica, Vol. 39, 1998

1. Ephedripites (S.) perprolatus Shaw, sp. nov. Figure 6A_B

Holotype: Slide OK-1 1699-bl-(2); film P7-5-7, P7-6-8; CPC Micropaleontology Lab.

Description: Grains encircled type, with 8_10 ridges; perprolate; 65 × 27 µ; the pole rounded to obtuse; grain length over width about 2.4; surface view striate, striae 2_3 µ wide, the muri in line shape, about 3 µ wide.

Figure 7. A_B, Ephedripites (D.) quadriplicatus Shaw (Film P10:18-17, P10:17-16); C_D, Ephedripites (D.) nanlingensis Sun & He (Film S7:25, S7-26); E_F, Ephedripites (E.) minor Shaw sp. nov. (Film P15:9-11, P15:8-10); G_H, Ephedripites (S.) tenuissimus Shaw sp. nov. (Film P7:28-30, P7:29-31); I_L, Ephedripites (E.) polyplicatus Shaw sp. nov. (Film S8:21, S8:22, P15:6-8, P15:5-7). (All ×1150)


Shaw — Eocene Ephedraceous palynomorphs of Taiwan

Stratigraphic occurrence: Eocene (OK-1 well, 1,669 m).

Taxonomic affinity: This species and the other three species described in this section are similar to the extant species of Ephedra. It belong to the subgenus Spiralipites, which is mostly found in the Upper Cretaceous (Jansonius and Hill, 1976).

Comment: This species differs from Ephedripites (S.) clathratus (Stover) Zhu & Wu 1985 and Ephedripites (S.) Huangshiensis Zhu & Wu 1985 by having a fewer ridges (ten or less) and differs from Ephedripites (S.) pengchiahsuensis Shaw by having a larger size (more than 45 µ in length).

Note. This species is named after the perprolate shape of its pollen.

2. Ephedripites (S.) pengchiahsuensis Shaw, sp. nov. Figure 6E_F

Holotype: Slide OK-1 1719- (1); film P14-17-18, P14-18-19; CPC Micropaleontology Lab.

Description: Grains encircled type, with 7 ridges; prolate to perprolate; 34 × 17 µ; the pole rounded; grain length over width about 2.0; surface view striate, striae 1_2 µ wide, the muri in line shape, about 3_4 µ wide.

Stratigraphic occurrence: Eocene (OK-1 well, 1,719 m).

Comment: This species differs from Ephedripites (S.) clathratus (Stover) Zhu & Wu 1985 and Ephedripites (S.) Huangshiensis Zhu & Wu 1985 by having fewer ridges (ten or less) and differs from Ephedripites (S.) perprolatus Shaw by having a smaller size (less than 45 µ in length).

Note. This species is named after the Pengchiahsu basin of the type locality.

3. Ephedripites (S.) densistriatus Shaw, sp. nov. Figure 6C_D

Holotype: Slide OK-1 1788-bl-(1); film P15-15-17, P15-16-18; CPC Micropaleontology Lab.

Description: Grains encircled type, with 9_10 ridges; perprolate; 47 × 19 µ; the pole rounded; grain length over width about 2.5; surface view striate, striae 2_3 µ wide, the muri in line shape, about 0.5 µ wide.

Stratigraphic occurrence: Eocene (OK-1 well, 1,788 m).

Comment: This species differs from Ephedripites (S.) clathratus (Stover) Zhu & Wu 1985 and Ephedripites (S.) Huangshiensis Zhu & Wu 1985 by having fewer ridges (ten or less) and differs from Ephedripites (S.) pengchiahsuensis Shaw, and Ephedripites (S.) perprolatus Shaw by the murri in line shap, about 0.5 µ wide.

Note. This species is named after the character of the dense striae.

4. Ephedripites (S.) tenuissimus Shaw, sp. nov. Figure 7G_H

Holotype: Slide OK-1 1699-bl-(2); film P7-27-29, P7-28-30, P7-29-31; CPC Micropaleontology Lab.

Description: Grains encircled type, with 6_8 ridges; perprolate; 47 × 19 µ; the pole acute; grain length over width about 4.5; surface view striate, striae 2 µ wide, the muri in line shape, about 0.5 µ wide.

Stratigraphic occurrence: Eocene (OK-1 well, 1,669 m).

Comment: This species differs from Ephedripites (S.) clathratus (Stover) Zhu & Wu 1985 and Ephedripites (S.) Huangshiensis Zhu & Wu 1985 by having fewer ridges (ten or less) and differs from Ephedripites (S.) pengchiahsuensis Shaw, Ephedripites (S.) perprolatus Shaw, and Ephedripites (S.) densistriatus Shaw by the grain length over width larger than 3.5.

Note. This species is named after the tenuissimus shape of the pollen.

Acknowledgments. I would like to express my deep appreciation to the Exploration and Research Institute, CPC for providing the facilities to conduct this study and to the Offshore and Oversea Petroleum Division, CPC for providing subsurface rock samples. This work was supported by the National Science Council of the Republic of China under contract NSC85-2311-B-326-001.

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