''Eucryphia falcata'' is an extinct species of flowering plant. It belongs to the genus ''Eucryphia'' within the family '' Cunoniaceae''.''Eucryphia falcata'' Hill, 1991. (n.d.). GBIF , Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Retrieved November 9, 2022, from https://www.gbif.org/species/8606557

Description

Macrofossils of compound leaves with an unknown number of total leaflets have been found. The lateral leaflets are falcate, and the terminal leaflet is symmetrical. It has a rounded base. The leaf margin had serrations. This is likely the plesiomorphic condition for all genera of the family Cunoniaceae.Barnes, R. W., & Jordan, G. J. (2000)
"Eucryphia (Cunoniaceae) reproductive and leaf macrofossils from Australian Cainozoic sediments."
Australian Systematic Botany, 13(3), 373-394. The leaves also had trichomes.

Etymology

The specific epithet ''falcata'' is derived from the falcate, lateral leaflets of the compound leaves.

Temporal range

This species lived during the late Paleocene, during the timeframe of 58.7 to 55.8 Ma.Hill, R. S. (1991). Leaves of Eucryphia (Eucryphiaceae) from Tertiary sediments in south-eastern Australia. Australian Systematic Botany, 4(3), 481-497.†Eucryphia falcata Hill 1991. (n.d.). Fossilworks: Gateway to the Paleobiology Database. Retrieved November 9, 2022, from http://www.fossilworks.org/cgi-bin/bridge.pl?a=taxonInfo It is the oldest fossil Eucryphia species.Keefe, R. L. (2012)
"The Brandy Creek fossil flora (Doctoral dissertation, Victoria University)."
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Distribution

One fossil specimen has been found near Bunyan, New South Wales, Australia. The fossil was found in lake sediments of the Lake Bungarby, which is a terrestrial mudstone dating back to the Paleocene.

References

falcata Extinct plants Prehistoric plants Fossils Flora of Australia Extinct species Extinct taxa Fossil taxa {{Oxalidales-stub