Sphaeriodes ventricosa
Sphaeriodes ventricosa
Summary
Sphaeriodes ventricosa produced a compact, almost spherical fruit stone with a heavy woody wall. The exterior is coarsely nodular to rugose rather than arranged into the neat reticulate ridges typical of Iodes. At the apex the stylar region is accompanied by paired knob-like structures, while internally the primary vascular bundle is embedded in the wall and the locule lining carries minute papillae.
The internal anatomy resembles Iodes in several respects, but the globose form, very thick wall and coarse external sculpture are distinctive enough for Sphaeriodes to remain a separate fossil genus. The endocarp enclosed a single seed inside a drupaceous fruit; the softer flesh is not preserved. Nothing in the fossil directly identifies the parent plant as a tree, shrub or climber, so its life form should be described only at the broader woody-Icacinaceae level.
Quick Identification
Look for: a globose, heavy-walled fruit stone with a coarse nodular/rugose exterior rather than a flat reticulate surface. The apex has paired knob-like structures; CT/sectioning should show an embedded marginal bundle and a very finely papillate locule lining.
Diagnostic Features
- Endocarp is globose to nearly spherical, rather than strongly lenticular.
- External surface is coarsely nodular or rugose.
- Wall is very thick and woody, composed of large sclereids with irregular or sinuous walls.
- Primary marginal vascular bundle is embedded within the endocarp wall.
- Locule lining is minutely papillate and the apical stylar region is flanked by paired knob-like structures.
Fossil Details
Similar Species
Recorded Fossil Sites
No fossil-site occurrences have yet been recorded for this species.
References
- Eleanor Mary Reid; Marjorie Elizabeth Jane Chandler. (1933). The London Clay Flora. . British Museum (Natural History), London View reference
- Gregory W. Stull; Neil F. Adams; Steven R. Manchester; Dan Sykes; Margaret E. Collinson. (2016). Revision of Icacinaceae from the Early Eocene London Clay flora based on X-ray micro-CT. Botany, 94(9), 713–745 View reference
- Margaret E. Collinson; Neil F. Adams; Steven R. Manchester; Gregory W. Stull; Fabiany Herrera; Selena Y. Smith; Mary J. Andrew; Paul Kenrick; Dan Sykes. (2016). X-ray micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) of pyrite-permineralized fruits and seeds from the London Clay Formation (Ypresian) conserved in silicone oil: a critical evaluation. Botany, 94(9), 697–711 View reference