Portnallia bognorensis
Portnallia bognorensis
Summary
Portnallia bognorensis was a very small early Eocene mastixioid plant known from its compact multi-chambered fruit stones. Several seeds were protected within curved cavities separated by narrow fibrous partitions, giving the fruit a complex internal structure despite its tiny size.
The fruit is especially useful for showing how much mastixioid diversity could be packed into the London Clay flora. It resembles Lanfrancia internally but is markedly smaller. Material once separated as Portnallia sheppeyensis is included within the modern concept of this species, broadening the size range represented by the accepted taxon.
Quick Identification
Look for: a minute subglobose to ovoid mastixioid stone, about 3.5–7.5 mm long across material now included in the species, with 2–4 curved C- to U-shaped locules separated by narrow fibrous septa.
Diagnostic Features
- Fruit stone is very small, subglobose to ovoid in overall shape.
- Accepted material spans roughly 3.5–7.5 mm in length.
- Endocarp contains 2–4 seed locules.
- Locules are curved, commonly C- to U-shaped in transverse section.
- Locules are separated mainly by narrow fibrous septa rather than broad parenchymatous wedges.
Fossil Details
Similar Species
Recorded Fossil Sites
London Clay Formation
References
- Steven R. Manchester; Margaret E. Collinson. (2022). Mastixioid fruits (Cornales) from the early Eocene London Clay Flora: morphology, anatomy and nomenclatural revision. Fossil Imprint, 78(1), 310–328 View reference