Early Eocene fossil plants from the Mwadui kimberlite pipe, Tanzania

DJ Cantrill; MK Bamford; BE Wagstaff; H Sauquet

Journal article

Early Eocene fossil plants from the Mwadui kimberlite pipe, Tanzania

DJ Cantrill, MK Bamford, BE Wagstaff, H Sauquet

Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology | ELSEVIER | Published : 2013

DOI: 10.1016/j.revpalbo.2013.04.002

Abstract

An early Eocene (52 ± 2 Ma) flora from the Mwadui kimberlite pipe in Tanzania includes ten leaf morphotypes, small seeds, fossil wood putatively related to Cynometra (Detarieae, Fabaceae), and a sparse palynoflora. The leaf flora is characterised by microphyllous and notophyllous entire margined leaves that are suggested to be related to the Euphorbiaceae and Fabaceae, although many cannot be firmly placed in modern families. The wood is the oldest member of Cynometroxylon and confirms that the Detarieae were diverse by the early Paleogene. The palynoflora is dominated by Ailanthipites daedaleus and Triporopollenites mwaduiensis with lesser amounts of small tricolpate (Tricolpites) and monos..

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University of Melbourne Researchers

David Cantrill Author

Grants

Funding Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the Swedish International Development Agency for funding administered through the Swedish Links Grant scheme administered by Vetenskapsradret and the South African NRF Cooperation Agreement (GUN 2068681). We would also like to thank De Beers for continued support and access to material. Richard Lewis prepared the petrographic thin sections.