Microvictoria

Microvictoria; Temporal range: 93.9–89.8 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N ↓ Turonian, late Cretaceous
Scientific classification ; (disputed)
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Order:	Nymphaeales
Family:	Nymphaeaceae
Genus:	†Microvictoria; Nixon, Gandolfo & Crepet
Species:	†M. svitkoana
Binomial name
	†Microvictoria svitkoana; Nixon, Gandolfo & Crepet

Microvictoria svitkoana is a fossil species of aquatic plant, which occurred in the Cretaceous period of New Jersey, USA.^[1]

Description

Generative characteristics

The pedunculate, actinomorphic flowers are 2.3-3.4 mm long, and 1.2-1.6 mm wide. The peduncle is 0.4-1.8 mm long. Both staminoids and fertile stamens are present.^[1]

Taxonomy

Publication

It was published by Maria Alejandra Gandolfo, Kevin C. Nixon, and William L. Crepet in 2004.^[1]

Type specimen

The type specimen was collected in the Old Crossman Clay Pit, Sayreville, New Jersey, USA.^[1]

Position within Nymphaeales

It is placed in the family Nymphaeaceae.^[1] This placement has been questioned by different authors, who believe it may be placed outside of the order Nymphaeales.^[2]^[3]

Etymology

The generic name Microvictoria expresses an affinity to the extant genus Victoria. The specific epithet svitkoana honours Jennifer L. Svitko,^[1] a lab technician of the Cornell University.^[4]^[5]

Ecology

Pollination

It was pollinated by insects.^[6]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ Gandolfo, M. A., Nixon, K. C., & Crepet, W. L. (2004). "Cretaceous flowers of Nymphaeaceae and implications for complex insect entrapment pollination mechanisms in early angiosperms." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 101(21), 8056-8060.
^ Friis, E. M., Crane, P. R., & Pedersen, K. R. (2011). "Early Flowers and angiosperm evolution." p. 204. Cambridge University Press.
^ Löhne, C. (2006). "Molecular Phylogenetics and Historical Biogeography of Basal Angiosperms – A Case Study in Nymphaeales" [Dissertation, Rheinischen Friedrich–Wilhelms–Universität Bonn].
^ Jennifer Svitko. (n.d.). Cornell CALS. Retrieved February 6, 2024, from https://cals.cornell.edu/jennifer-svitko
^ Lab members. (n.d.). Cornell University. Retrieved February 6, 2024, from http://bhort.bh.cornell.edu/histology/memb.html
^ Angiosperm Pollination. (2021, August 24). Digital Atlas of Ancient Life. Retrieved February 6, 2024, from https://www.digitalatlasofancientlife.org/learn/embryophytes/angiosperms/angiosperm_pollination/

[Gandolfo_et_al.,_2004-1] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ Gandolfo, M. A., Nixon, K. C., & Crepet, W. L. (2004). "Cretaceous flowers of Nymphaeaceae and implications for complex insect entrapment pollination mechanisms in early angiosperms." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 101(21), 8056-8060.

[Friis_et_al.,_2011-2] Friis, E. M., Crane, P. R., & Pedersen, K. R. (2011). "Early Flowers and angiosperm evolution." p. 204. Cambridge University Press.

[Löhne,_2006-3] Löhne, C. (2006). "Molecular Phylogenetics and Historical Biogeography of Basal Angiosperms – A Case Study in Nymphaeales" [Dissertation, Rheinischen Friedrich–Wilhelms–Universität Bonn].

[Cornell_CALS-4] Jennifer Svitko. (n.d.). Cornell CALS. Retrieved February 6, 2024, from https://cals.cornell.edu/jennifer-svitko

[Cornell_University-5] Lab members. (n.d.). Cornell University. Retrieved February 6, 2024, from http://bhort.bh.cornell.edu/histology/memb.html

[Digital_Atlas_of_Ancient_Life-6] Angiosperm Pollination. (2021, August 24). Digital Atlas of Ancient Life. Retrieved February 6, 2024, from https://www.digitalatlasofancientlife.org/learn/embryophytes/angiosperms/angiosperm_pollination/

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