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Late Cenozoic Grasses

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Plates

Plate I

Graphic sections of the Ogallala Formation, Ellis, Roooks Counties, Kansas
Available as an Acrobat PDF file, 1.2 MB

Please Note

The following photographic plates are also available as a higher-resolution Acrobat PDF file (54 MB). All the plates are in one file.

Images have been scaled for web display and the magnifications recalculated.

Explanation of Plate 1

Fossil grasses (Gramineae) from the Ogallala Formation, SEM.

A, B, Berriochloa amphoralis Elias: A, lateral view of anthoecium, × 19, BP128, bed 4 at site 21; B, enlargement of crown area of specimen in A showing the labrum, l, and prow, p, × 53.
C, Berriochloa inflata Elias: palea, showing prow, p, and medial depression, d, × 69, BP66, bed 1 at site 4, locality 4.
D, E, F, Berriochloa minuta Elias: D, lateral view of anthoecium illustrating the heel, h, × 35, BP115, bed 6 at site 42; E, frontal view of anthoecium showing palea, pa, exposed between the edges of the lemma, × 35, BP116, bed 6 at site 42; F, dorsal view of anthoecium showing medial ridge, r, × 24, BP133, bed 2 at site 8.
G, Berriochloa obtrullata Thomasson, sp. nov., holotype, lateral view of anthoecium, × 24, BP172, bed 2 at locality 3c, site 30.

Black and white scanning electron microscope images of fossils, plate 1.

Explanation of Plate 2

Fossil grasses from the Ogallala Formation, SEM.

A, B, Berriochloa obtrullata Thomasson, sp. nov.: A, isotype, frontal view of anthoecium showing palea exposed between the edges of the lemma, × 21, BP175, bed 2 at locality 3c, site 30; B, isotype, detail of scar of attachment of awn showing large central vascular trace scar, cs, small lateral trace scar, ls, large prickles, lp, around the rim of the awn scar and the prow, p, of the palea. × 88, BP173, bed 2 at locality 3c, site 30.
C, D, E, Berriochloa pumila Thomasson, sp. nov.: C, holotype, lateral view of anthoecium showing sharp callus at the base, × 29, BP137, bed 2 at locality 1, site 9a; D, dorsal view of anthoecium, × 29, BP144, bed 1 at site 22; E, topotype, detail of surface of lemma at the summit of the anthoecium showing hooks, × 256, BP10, bed 2 at locality 1, site 9a.
F, G, Berriochloa tuberculata Elias: F, lateral view of anthoecium, × 21, BP113, bed 6 at site 42; G, lateral view of anthoecium, × 26, BP117, bed 2 at locality 1, site 5.

Black and white scanning electron microscope images of fossils, plate 2.

Explanation of Plate 3

Fossil grasses from the Ogallala Formation, SEM.

A, Berriochloa tuberculata Elias: lateral view of the shoulder and crown of an anthoecium showing hairs, h, and prickles, pr, × 62, BP113, bed 6 at site 42.
B, C, D, Berriochloa aspera Thomasson, sp. nov.: B, isotype, dorsal view of anthoecium showing prominent hooks, × 21, BP160, bed 1 at site 22; C, holotype, lateral view of anthoecium, × 21, BP162, bed 1 at site 22; D, holotype, enlargement of specimen in C showing prominent prow, p, and hooks, × 128.
E, Berriochloa brevis (Elias) Thomasson, comb. nov.: paratype, lateral view of anthoecium, × 26, BP41, UNSM-E73.
F, G, Berriochloa naruhea Thomasson, sp. nov.: F, holotype, lateral view of anthoecium, × 18, BP157, bed 1 at locality 3, site 4; G, isotype, upper portion of anthoecium, × 38, BP158, bed 1 at locality 3, site 4.
H, Nassella amphora Elias: paratype, lateral view of anthoecium, × 38, BP93, UNSM-E66.

Black and white scanning electron microscope images of fossils, plate 3.

Explanation of Plate 4

Fossil grasses from the Ogallala Formation, SEM.

A, B, Nassella fryeleonardii Thomasson, sp. nov.: A, holotype, lateral view of anthoecium, × 21, BP12, bed 1 at site 29; B, holotype, frontal view of specimen in A showing hooks, ho, × 48.
C, Nassella pohlii Thomasson, sp. nov.: holotype, lateral view of anthoecium, × 38, BP54, bed 2 at locality 4, site 39.
D, E, Nassella reynoldsii Thomasson, sp. nov.: D, holotype, lateral view of anthoecium showing hooks in medial 1/2 of lemma, × 38, BP104, bed 1 at site 21; E, isotype, frontal view of anthoecium showing overlapping lemma, × 38, BP105, bed 1 at site 21.
F, G, H, I, Panicum elegans Elias: F, dorsal view of anthoecium showing square germination lid, g, × 21, BP177, bed 1 at site 33; G, lateral view of anthoecium in F showing partially open germination lid, g, × 21; H, apex of palea illustrating vertical lines of papillae, p, × 69, BP163, bed 1 at locality 3a, site 30; I, oblique basal view of partially open germination lid and basal attachment scar, × 69, BP177, bed 1 at site 33.

Black and white scanning electron microscope images of fossils, plate 4.

Explanation of Plate 5

Fossil sedges (Cyperaceae) and borages (Boraginaceae) from the Ogallala Formation, SEM.

A, B, Eleofimbris svensonii Thomasson, sp. nov.: A, holotype, lateral view of achene, × 75, BP165, bed 3 at locality 2, site 5; B, isotype, dorsal view of achene, × 75, BP164, bed 3 at locality 2, site 5.
C, D, E, F, Cryptantha coroniformis (Elias) Segal: C, dorsal view of smooth nutlet, × 32, BP171, bed 1 at site 1; D, ventral view of nutlet showing characteristic scar of attachment, × 32, BP169, site 45; E, lateral view of tuberculate nutlet, × 32, BP170, site 45; F, surface of nutlet showing rounded tubercules and epidermal cells, e, exposed below cuticle, × 160, BP169, site 45.
G, H, Cryptantha auriculata (Elias) Segal: G, lateral view of nutlet, × 29, BP180, specimen B, bed 6 at site 42; H, dorsal view of nutlet showing small auricle, a, × 26, BP180, specimen A, bed 6 at site 42.

Black and white scanning electron microscope images of fossils, plate 5.

Explanation of Plate 6

Fossil borages from the Ogallala Formation, SEM.

A, B, Cryptantha parvicarpa Thomasson, sp. nov.: A, holotype, lateral view of nutlet, × 38, BP179, specimen B, bed 2 at site 9c; B, isotype, frontal view of nutlet showing scar of attachment, × 38, BP179, specimen A, bed 2 at site 9c.
C, D, E, F, Eliasiana aculeata Thomasson, gen. nov., sp. nov.: C, holotype, lateral view of nutlet showing lateral ridge, r, and ventral keel, k, × 29, BP82, bed 2 at site 47; D, basal view of nutlet in E showing funnel-shaped scar with thick rim, ventral keel, k, and lateral ridge, r, × 29; E, isotype, frontal (ventral) view of nutlet showing keel, k, × 29, BP83, bed 2 at site 47; F, higher resolution of nutlet surface of specimen in C showing aculea, a, × 799.
G, H, Prolithospermum johnstonii Elias: G, basal view of nutlet showing funnel-shaped scar of attachment, × 16, BP84, bed 9 at locality 3, site 6; H, lateral view of nutlet showing characteristic gibbous projection, g, of ventral keel and absence of lateral ridge, × 26, BP85, bed 9 at locality 3, site 6.

Black and white scanning electron microscope images of fossils, plate 6.

Explanation of Plate 7

Fossil borages from the Ogallala Formation, SEM.

A, Prolithospermum johnstonii Elias: ventral view of nutlet, × 16, BP84, bed 9 at locality 3, site 6.
B, Prolithospermum grossii Thomasson, sp. nov.: holotype, lateral view of nutlet, showing lateral ridge, r, gibbous ventral keel, k, and funnel-shaped scar, × 24, BP178, bed 1 at site 2.
C, D, E, Biorbia fossilia (Berry) Cockerell: C, lateral view of smooth nutlet, × 26, BP89, site 44; D, lateral view of rugose nutlet showing lateral ridge, r, and ventral keel, k, × 35, BP98, bed 8 at locality 1, site 46; E, enlargement of specimen in D showing characteristic scar of attachment of Biorbia, × 96.
F, G, H, Prolappula verrucosa Thomasson, gen. nov., sp. nov.: F, holotype, nutlet surface showing barbed hairs at margin, × 62, BP18, bed 3 at site 9a; G, detail of barbed hair in specimen in F, × 351; H, higher resolution of nutlet in F, showing prickle, p, and tubercules, t, with small secondary protuberances, t, × 623.

Black and white scanning electron microscope images of fossils, plate 7.

Explanation of Plate 8

Scanning electron micrographs of fossil grass anthoecia epidermises. Arrows indicate direction of anthoecium summit.

A, Berriochloa amphoralis Elias: epidermal cell pattern of the lemma, × 351, BP128, bed 4 at site 21.
B, C, Berriochloa conica Elias: B, paratype, epidermal cell pattern of the lemma surface showing long cells obscured by cuticle, × 351, BP52 (from UNSM-E77); C, higher resolution of specimen in B showing long cells with simple rounded lobes, 1, × 623.
D, Berriochloa inflata Elias: paratype, epidermal cell pattern of the lemma showing long cells with regularly dichotomizing lobes, l, × 623, BP51 (from UNSM-E14).
E, F, Berriochloa maxima Elias: E, epidermal cell pattern of the lemma, × 351, BP3, bed 1 at site 17; F, higher resolution of specimen in E showing long cells with irregularly branching lobes, l, × 623.

Black and white scanning electron microscope images of fossils, plate 8.

Explanation of Plate 9

Scanning electron micrographs of fossil grass anthoecia epidermises. Arrows indicate direction of anthoecium summit.

A, Berriochloa minuta Elias: epidermal cell pattern of the lemma showing long cells with simple lobes, × 351, BP116, bed 6 at site 42.
B, Berriochloa primaeva Elias: paratype, epidermal cell pattern of the lemma showing long cells with simple acute lobes, × 623, BP39 (from UNSM-E9).
C, Berriochloa pumila Thomasson, sp. nov.: epidermal cell pattern of the lemma showing a hook, h, and long cells partially obscured by a cuticle, × 623, BP145, bed 1 at site 22.
D, Berriochloa tuberculata Elias: epidermal cell pattern of the lemma showing hair bases and long cells, × 351, BP113, bed 6 at site 42.
E, Berriochloa brevis (Elias) Thomasson, comb. nov.: paratype, epidermal cell pattern of the lemma showing remnants of hooks and well-developed long cells, × 351, BP41 (from UNSM-E3).
F, Berriochloa grandis (Elias) Thomasson, comb. nov.: paratype, epidermal cell pattern of the lemma showing long cells obscured by thin cuticle, × 351, BP46 (from UNSM-E10).

Black and white scanning electron microscope images of fossils, plate 9.

Explanation of Plate 10

Scanning electron micrographs of fossil grass anthoecia epidermises. Arrows indicate direction of anthoecium summit.

A, Berriochloa naruhea Thomasson, sp. nov.: holotype, epidermal pattern of lemma showing hooks, ho, and long cells, × 351, BP157, bed 1 at locality 3, site 4.
B, Berriochloa tuba (Elias) Thomasson, comb. nov.: paratype, epidermal pattern of the lemma, × 351, BP55 (from UNSM-E68).
C, Nassella amphora Elias: paratype, epidermal cell pattern of the lemma with features only slightly observable through the cuticle. Note the remnants of tubercles, t, and the crescent to oval shaped long cells outlined in black. Note other similar cells nearby, × 351, BP93 (from UNSM-E66).
D, Nassella fryeleonardii Thomasson, sp. nov.: holotype, epidermal cell pattern of the lemma showing silica (s)-suberin (su) couples, × 527, BP12, bed 1 at site 29.
E, Nassella pohlii Thomasson, sp. nov.: holotype, epidermal cell pattern of the lemma showing long cells with ripple walls, l, and crescent to oval shaped short cells (? silica) with smooth walls, s, × 623, BP54, bed 2 at locality 4, site 39.
F, Nassella reynoldsii Thomasson, sp. nov.: holotype, epidermal cell pattern of the lemma showing silica (s)-suberin (su) couples, × 623, BP104, bed 1 at site 21.

Black and white scanning electron microscope images of fossils, plate 10.

Explanation of Plate 11

Scanning electron and light micrographs of the epidermises of fossil grass anthoecia or leaves, sedge achenes, and borage nutlets. Arrows indicate direction of the anthoecium, achene, or nutlet summits.

A, Panicum elegans Elias: epidermal cell patterns of the over-lapping lemma (left) and palea (right), × 623, BP177, bed 1 at site 33, SEM.
B, Graminophyllum kansasensis Thomasson, sp. nov.: holotype, epidermal cell pattern of a leaf fragment showing silica cell, si, suberin cell, su, long cell, l, and stoma with guard cells, g, and dome-shaped subsidiary cells, d, × 2537, bed 2 at site 2, LM.
C, Eleofimbris svensonii Thomasson, gen. nov., sp. nov.: holotype, epidermal cell pattern of the achene surface, × 623, BP165, bed 3 at locality 2, site 5, SEM.
D, Prolithospermum johnstonii Elias: epidermal cell pattern of the nutlet surface, × 623, BP84, bed 9 at locality 3, site 6.
E, Cryptantha coroniformis (Elias) Segal: epidermal cell pattern of the nutlet surface, × 623, BP169, site 45.
F, Biorbia fossilia (Berry) Cockerell: epidermal cell pattern of the nutlet surface, × 623, BP98, bed 8 at locality 1, site 46.

Black and white scanning electron microscope images and light micrographs of fossils, plate 11.


Prev Page--References, Appendix

Kansas Geological Survey, Geology
Placed on web May 1, 2009; originally published September 1979.
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The URL for this page is http://www.kgs.ku.edu/Publications/Bulletins/218/08_plates.html