Microvictoria
Fossil species of aquatic plant
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Microvictoria svitkoana is a fossil species of aquatic plant, which occurred in the Cretaceous period of New Jersey, USA.[1]
| Microvictoria | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  (disputed) | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Order: | Nymphaeales |
| Family: | Nymphaeaceae |
| Genus: | †Microvictoria Nixon, Gandolfo & Crepet[1] |
| Species: | †M. svitkoana |
| Binomial name | |
| †Microvictoria svitkoana Nixon, Gandolfo & Crepet[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] It has been proposed to include it in a newly described family Microvictoriaceae Doweld with a possible affinity to the order Illiciales.[4]
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.[5][6]
Ecology
Pollination
It was pollinated by insects.[7]