Proteaceaefolia araucoensis R.J.Carp. & McLoughlin, 2025

Proteaceaefolia araucoensis R.J.Carp. & McLoughlin gen. nov., sp. nov.

( Fig. 2 View Fig .)

Type: S165435 ( Fig. 2 View Fig ). Lota Member , Curanilahue Formation ; latest Paleocene (?to early Eocene); Buen Retiro coal mine, Concepción Province, Biobío Region, Chile . Swedish Museum of Natural History , Stockholm, Sweden .

Genus diagnosis

Leaves without preserved cuticle, pinnately lobed, serrate, base acute and cuneate. Lobes alternately placed, narrowly oblong to ovate, apically directed, apices acute, sinuses rounded. Teeth small, apically directed. Venation semicraspedodromous where teeth present or inferred, otherwise brochidodromous.

Etymology

Named for affinity within Proteaceae .

Species diagnosis

As for the genus, due to monotypy.

Description of type

Leaf ( Fig. 2 View Fig ) pinnately lobed, evidently sparsely serrate, large (~ 29 cm long but tip of acute apex missing), ~ 14.5 cm wide (measured between extremities of lobes), base acute and cuneate; lateral lobes alternately placed, apically directed, apices acute, sinuses rounded, ~ 11 cm long (measured from primary vein divergence point from midvein to incomplete (L) and indistinct (R) apices) and ~ 7–8 cm from base of sinus, ~ 2.5 cm wide, narrowly oblong to ovate (tapering toward apex), asymmetrical (narrower) near sinus; terminal (distal) lobe ~ 17.5 cm long from distalmost (L) lobe vein junction and ~ 13 cm from base of sinus, elliptic, ~ 2.2 cm wide from midvein to margin opposite small sublobe, this ~ 5 cm long from midvein divergence point. Teeth sparse (~1 per 1.5 cm of margin), minute (~ 0.5–1 mm long), very indistinct due to poor preservation but directed apically and most evident along margin of terminal lobe. Venation semicraspedodromous where teeth inferred, otherwise brochidodromous; lateral lobe primary veins arising at ~60 °, then curved upwards near midvein and running straight to apex at ~45 ° from midvein, apical sublobe arising at ~45 ° and running at ~30 °; ~10 alternately placed secondary veins per side in major lobes arising at ~80 ° from primary vein, then running at ~60 ° before curving up to junction with super-adjacent secondaries; regular intersecondary veins present, distinct admedially but indistinct exmedially; higher order veins not preserved.

Specimens examined

The type ( S165435 ) is the only more-or-less complete specimen known and preserved as an impression in pale grey sandy siltstone. S160367 is a leaf fragment only ( Fig. 2 View Fig ). This could be part of a non-lobed leaf but is here placed in the new species because of the identical venation and similar width to that of the lobes of the type . The teeth are better preserved than those of the type.

Etymology

Named for presence within the Arauco –Concepción coals.

Notes

Associated with Halle’s 1908 collection label for the type is a more recent label that names both Halle (in 1908) and P. Dusén (in 1896) as collectors, and another new label provides an identification as Proteaceae and the specimen number ( S165435 ). However, to our knowledge no mention or illustration of this leaf has previously been made in the literature. The reference to Dusén is enigmatic and may be disregarded, since in our understanding he did not collect from Buen Retiro .

The coarseness of the sedimentary matrix precludes clear observation of minute teeth on the margin of the type specimen. However, there is physical evidence of at least one tooth ( Fig. 2 View Fig ), and the location of others can be inferred, especially by reference to specimen S160367 , where the secondary veins more clearly approach the marginal teeth and deflect apically, i.e. semicraspedodromously) ( Fig. 2 View Fig ) .