Evolutionary trends and ecological differentiation in early Cenozoic Fagaceae of western North America.

ABSTRACT:

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Premise of the study

The early Cenozoic was a key period of evolutionary radiation in Fagaceae. The common notion is that species thriving in the modern summer-dry climate of California originated in climates with ample summer rain during the Paleogene.•

Methods

We investigated in situ and dispersed pollen of Fagaceae from the uppermost Eocene Florissant fossil beds, Colorado, United States, using a combined light and scanning electron microscopy approach.•

Key results

Pollen types of Castaneoideae with affinities to modern Castanea, Lithocarpus, and Castanopsis were recognized. Pollen of the extinct genus Fagopsis represents a derived type of Castaneoideae pollen. Infrageneric groups of Quercus were well represented, including pollen of Group Prot

SUBMITTER: Bouchal J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6485467 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature