Tinospora excavata

Tinospora excavata

Reid & Chandler, 1933

Fossil group Plants
Order Ranunculales
Family Menispermaceae
Genus Tinospora
Taxonomic status Accepted
Geological age Ypresian

Summary

Tinospora excavata was an early Eocene member of the moonseed family known from a robust, one-seeded fruit stone. Living Tinospora are climbing plants of tropical and subtropical regions, so a climbing habit is a reasonable comparison for the fossil species, although the London Clay material preserves the fruit rather than attached stems or leaves.

The endocarp formed a hard protective case around the seed and had a deeply boat-shaped form. Its surface carried fine tubercles, while a small opening on the ventral side led into the condyle region associated with the seed attachment. Modern work continues to recognise T. excavata as an important early record of this fruit type, although its exact position within the living Tinospora radiation remains uncertain.

Quick Identification

Look for: a deeply boat-shaped Tinospora fruit stone with fine surface tubercles, a small centrally placed ventral condyle opening and a distinctly swollen or bulging side; compare with the larger, more strongly spined Tinospora wilkinsonii.

Diagnostic Features

  • Endocarp is deeply boat-shaped.
  • External surface is covered by fine tubercles rather than broad pits and ridges.
  • A small condyle aperture lies near the centre of the ventral face.
  • One side of the endocarp is characteristically swollen or bulging.
  • Endocarp wall shows two distinct fibrous zones, with finer criss-cross fibres internally.

Fossil Details

Fossil material
Fruit
Preservation
Surface tubercles are easily reduced by abrasion, and pyritisation or breakage can obscure the ventral condyle opening. Species-level identification is strongest when the boat-shaped profile, surface ornament and ventral construction are preserved together.

Similar Species

Recorded Fossil Sites

References

  • Frédéric M. B. Jacques. (2009). Survey of the Menispermaceae endocarps. Adansonia, 31(1), 47–87 View reference
  • Frédéric M. B. Jacques; Dario de Franceschi. (2005). Endocarps of Menispermaceae from Le Quesnoy outcrop (Sparnacian facies, Lower Eocene, Paris Basin). Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology, 135(1–2), 61–70 View reference
  • Lian Lian; Rosa Del C. Ortiz; Florian Jabbour; Zhi-Duan Chen; Wei Wang. (2019). Re-delimitation of Tinospora (Menispermaceae): Implications for character evolution and historical biogeography. Taxon, 68(5), 905–917 View reference
Last Reviewed
27 August 2026 Reviewed by Sam Harris