ephedroids from the Early Cretaceous Yixian Formation in Liaoning ...

254 C. Rydin et al.: Cretaceous ephedroids from China
Table 2. Species of Liaoxia
Unit: mm. Liaoxia Liaoxia chenii Liaoxia chenii Liaoxia chenii Liaoxia acutiformis Liaoxia
Liaoxia elongata
chenii PB17800 PB17801 PB20717 PB20718 PB20721
elongata PB20724 PB20723
Holotype Paratype New material New material New material New material New material
Photo Fig. 1 – Figs. 3–4 Fig. 2 Figs. 9–11 Figs. 14–15 Figs. 12–13
Branching Opposite Opposite Opposite Opposite Opposite Opposite-decussate Opposite
Multiple axillary b. No No No No No No Yes
Internode length 8–40 c. 12 8–17 ? 6–14 9–13 ?
Stem width 1–3 0.5–1.5 0.5–2.0 0.5–1.5 0.3–1.4 0.4–1.0 0.5–1.5
Leaf shape Linear Linear Linear Linear Linear Absent Absent
Leaves length 20 5 7 5 2.7–7.0 — —
Leaves width 1 0.1–0.3 0.1–0.3 0.3 0.2 — —
Leaf venation 2? ? 2? 2 2? — —
Cone shape Obovate Obovate Obovate Obovate Elongate
Elongate Elongate
(to narr.
obovate)
Cone length 5–10 4–6 4–6 5–7 3.5–6.0 5–6 (3-)6–10
Cone width 3–4 2–3 2.5–5.0 3–4 1.7–2.7 2 3
Cone attachment SessileSessileSessile- Pedunculate SessilePedunculateSessilepedunculatepedunculatepedunculatepedunculatesessilepedunculate
No. of
2–6;
2–6; 2–6; 2–6; 6–12;
8–10; erect 10–12; erect
bract pairs reflexed reflexed reflexed reflexed erect-slight.
reflexed
Bract length 4 3–4 3–4 4 1.5–2.0 2.5–3.5 4
Bract width 0.6 ? a
0.3–0.8 0.5 ? a
? a
? a
Bract shape Ovate (to Ovate (to Ovate (to Ovate (to Narrowly Narrowly Narrowly
triangular) triangular) triangular) triangular) ovate
ovate
ovate
Bract apex Acute to Acute to Acute to Acute to Acute Attenuate Attenuate
attenuate attenuate attenuate attenuate
Bract
2 parallel ? 2 parallel 2 parallel ? ? ?
venation
Seed shape ? ? Ovoid-elliptic ? ? — —
Seed length ? ? 1 ? ? — —
Seed width ? ? 0.3–0.7 ? ? — —
Gender Female Female Female Female Male? Male? Male?