Parataxodium
Genus of ancient conifer
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Parataxodium is an extinct genus of conifer that belonged to the subfamily Taxodioideae,[1] a group included within cypress family.[1] It is known primarily from fossilized remains dated to the Late Cretaceous period and is considered morphologically intermediate between modern genera such as Taxodium (bald cypress) and Metasequoia (dawn redwood).[1] One species is known, Parataxodium wigginsii.[1][2] Although it belongs to the swamp cypress family, it inhabited a much wider range of environments, including the cooler regions of Alaska.[2] Although most fossils come from the Cretaceous, specimens are also known from both the Jurassic and the Paleogene.[3]
| Parataxodium Temporal range: | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Gymnospermae |
| Division: | Pinophyta |
| Class: | Pinopsida |
| Order: | Cupressales |
| Family: | Cupressaceae |
| Subfamily: | Taxodioideae |
| Genus: | †Parataxodium Arnold and Lowther |
Distribution
Fossils are known from China, Canada and the United States (such as in Alaska, North Dakota and Montana).[3][2]