Portnallia bognorensis

Portnallia bognorensis

M.Chandler

Fossil group Plants
Order Cornales
Family Mastixiaceae
Genus Portnallia
Taxonomic status Accepted
Geological age Ypresian

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

Typical size
About 3.5–7.5 mm long.
Fossil material
Fruit
Preservation
The minute pyritised stones are vulnerable to cracking and loss of individual locule walls. Surface size alone is not sufficient: the number, shape and fibrous separation of the seed cavities should be visible before assigning fragmentary material.

Similar Species

Recorded Fossil Sites

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
Last Reviewed
26 August 2026 Reviewed by Sam Harris