Sinomenium cantalense

Sinomenium cantalense

(E.M. Reid) Dorofeev, 1955

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

Summary

Sinomenium cantalense was an early Eocene member of the moonseed family known from its hard fruit stone. The family is dominated today by climbing plants, so a climbing growth habit is plausible, but no attached London Clay stems or leaves demonstrate the form of the parent plant directly.

The endocarp protected a single seed and carried a series of transverse ridges around its outer surface. Modern morphometric work has shown that several historical fossil names fall within the variation of this species, making the shape of the fruit stone and the number of ridges more useful than old specimen labels.

Quick Identification

Look for: a straight, semicircular Sinomenium-type fruit stone with a nearly straight to only weakly concave ventral margin and generally no more than 22 transverse ridges; compare carefully with the oblique Palaeosinomenium obliquatum.

Diagnostic Features

  • Endocarp is straight rather than obliquely set.
  • Overall outline is semicircular in lateral view.
  • Ventral margin is nearly straight to only weakly concave.
  • Transverse ornament generally consists of 22 or fewer ridges.
  • A central foramen and associated condyle are present as part of the Menispermum–Sinomenium endocarp construction.

Fossil Details

Fossil material
Fruit
Preservation
Post-depositional deformation can alter the apparent outline, while abrasion may obscure transverse ridges. The modern revision therefore relies on overall shape together with ventral-margin form and ridge number; strongly deformed or worn stones should not be forced to species.

Similar Species

Recorded Fossil Sites

No fossil-site occurrences have yet been recorded for this species.

References

  • Frédéric M. B. Jacques. (2009). Survey of the Menispermaceae endocarps. Adansonia, 31(1), 47–87 View reference
  • Frédéric M. B. Jacques; Christopher Yu-Sheng Liu; Edoardo Martinetto; Zhe-Kun Zhou. (2011). Revised taxonomy of selected fossil endocarp species in the Menispermaceae using a morphometric approach. Geodiversitas, 33(1), 177–197 View reference
Last Reviewed
27 August 2026 Reviewed by Sam Harris