SCIADOPITOPHYLLUM CANADENSE GEN. ET SP. NOV.: A NEW CONIFER FROM WESTERN ALBERTA

A new Sciadopitys-like conifer is described on the basis of compression fossils of shoots and leaves found at the Smokey Tower locality in western Alberta. The specimens consist of long, strap-like leaves attached in apparent whorls and subtended by groups of scale leaves. Other scale leaves are borne in loose spirals on the shoots between whorls. These specimens represent the first record of Sciadopitys-like foliage from western North America. Comparisons are made with extant and extinct species of the genus Sciadopitys (Siebold and Zuccarini, 1841) and with the widely distributed fossil genus Sciadopitytes (Goeppert and Menge, 1883).     

First Occurrence of Platycladus from the Upper Miocene of Southwest China and Its Phytogeographic Implications

Platycladus Spach is native to Central China, but its natural occurrences are very difficult to establish. According to molecular phylogenetic data, this genus might have originated since the Oligocene, but no fossil record has been reported. Here, we describe eight foliage branches from the upper Miocene in western Yunnan, Southwest China as a new species, P. yunnanensis sp. nov., which is characterized by foliage branches spread in flattened sprays, and leaves decussate, imbricate, scale-like and dimorphic. The leaves are amphistomatic, and the stomata are elliptical or oblong, haplocheilic, and monocyclic type. Based on a detailed comparison with the extant genera of Cupressaceae sensu lato, our fossils are classified into the genus Platycladus. The occurrence of P. yunnanensis sp. nov. indicates that this genus had a more southernly natural distribution in the late Miocene than at present. Molecular phylogeny and fossil records support a pre-Oligocene common ancestor for the genera Platycladus, Microbiota and Calocedrus. The separation of the three taxa was most likely caused by the arid belt across Central China during the Oligocene. In addition, the cooling down of the global temperature and the strengthening of Asian monsoon since the Miocene will further promote the migration of these genera.     

Liaoxia Cao et S.Q. Wu (Gnetales): ephedroids from the Early Cretaceous Yixian Formation in Liaoning, northeastern China

Gnetalean compression-impression fossils are described from the Early Cretaceous Yixian Formation, Liaoning Province, north-eastern China, and assigned to six species of Liaoxia Cao et S.Q. Wu. The fossils have opposite-decussate phyllotaxis and cones comprising 2–12 pairs of bracts. Ovulate cones have seeds typically in a distal position. The species differ from each other and from previously described fossils in the absence or presence of leaves, shape of cones and seeds, and shape and position of cone bracts. The species of Liaoxia are probably close relatives of extant species of Ephedra L., but diagnostic reproductive details that could confirm this hypothesis are not preserved. The restricted information in the fossils and the poorly understood morphological diversity of extant Ephedra, prevent assignment of the fossils to any particular subgroup of Ephedra, as well as an explicit exclusion of them from the extant genus.     

The structure and phylogenetic significance of the conifer Pseudohirmerella delawarensis nov. comb. from the Upper Triassic of North America

The conifer genus Pseudohirmerella Arndt is based on ovulate cone scales of the type species, Pseudohirmerella platysperma (Mägdefrau) Arndt, from the Upper Triassic of Germany, which bear five distal lobes and two paired structures represented by bulges on the adaxial surface. The paired structures were first described as seeds, but have recently been re-interpreted as arils by Arndt. Similar scales from the Passaic Formation at Milford, NJ, USA were described as Glyptolepis delawarensis Bock, and the new combination Pseudohirmerella delawarensis is proposed. A relatively complete concept of Pseudohirmerella is presented, which includes ovulate cones, possible associated pollen cones, associated shoots with Pagiophyllum-Brachyphyllum morphotype leaves and associated, anatomically preserved wood. Based on the ovulate cone morphology and the presence of organic matter lining the concavities on the scale rather than the corresponding bulges on the counterparts, it is likely that the supposed seeds or arils of Pseudohirmerella are actually casts of empty, seed-bearing depressions. Cheirolepidiaceous affinities are likely based on ovulate cone scale morphology, persistent pollen cones, foliage type and details of wood anatomy. The derived ovulate cone scale morphology of Pseudohirmerella indicates a substantial, but mostly undocumented, Triassic diversification of the Cheirolepidiaceae.     

Taxonomy of the Cupressaceae: Subfamilies,Tribes and Genera

Cupressaceae and Taxodiaceae have recently been merged under the earlier name Cupressaceae s.I. by many authors, as the two families are similar in a number of morpho logical characters. Sciadopitys S. et Z., which has often been treated as a morphologically isolated member of the Taxodiaceae, has recently been considered as a monotypic family, Sciadopityaceae. The Cupressaceae s.s. may be reorganized into two subfamilies. The Cu pressoideae is composed of genera with the uppermost cone-scales infertile and can be divided into four tribes: Cnpresseae, including Cupressus, X Cupressocyparis, Charnaecyparis and Fokeinia;Thujopsideae, including Thuja, Thujopsis and Platycladusl Junipereae, including Juniperus and Microbiota; and Tetraclineae, including Calocedrus and Tetraclinis. The Callitroideae is composed of genera with the uppermost cone-scales fertile and can be divided into three tribes: Actinostrobeae, including Actinostrobus, Callitris, Fitzroya and Neocallitropsis; Widdringtoneae, including Pilgerodendron, Diselma and Widdringtonia ; Libocedreae, including Libocedrus, Papuacedrus and Austrocedrus. Five geographical distribution patterns are recognized in the 21 genera of Cupressaceae. (a) One genus, X Cupressocyparis, is a natural hybrid derived from selections in England; (b) Two genera, Cupressus and Juniperus, are distributed in Africa, Europe, Asia and North America; (c) Three genera, Thuja, Chamaecyparis, and Calocedrus, are disjnnctly distributed in Eastem Asia and North America; (d) Five genera, Actinostrobus, Callitris, Libocedrus, Papuacedrus and Widdringtonia, have limited distribution; and (e) The other 10 genera, which are monotypic, are restricted to narrow areas except Plotycladus. Three centers of genera diversity are identified in the Cupressaceae, i. e Eastern Asia with nine genera, southwestern North America with five genera, and Australia and its adjacent islands in the east　with six genera, including New Zealand,. Tasmania, New Caledonia, and New Guinea. Other important areas are western Mediterranean with three genera and Chile and Argentinawith three genera.     

柏科分类和分布：亚科,族和属

柏科Cupressaceae和杉科Taxodiaceae有许多相似之处,近年来不少分类学家主张把两科合并成广义的柏科。原杉科中的金松属Sciadopitys与两科其他属的差异较大,被提升为单种科Sciadopity-aceae。本文根据球果可育种鳞的位置把柏科(狭义)分为2亚科,即上部种鳞不可育的柏木亚科Cupres-soideae和上部种鳞可育的澳洲柏亚科Callitroideae。综合其他形态学和解剖学证据,柏木亚科又分4族,即柏木族Cupresseae(包括:柏术属Cupressus、杂交柏属×Cupressocyparis、扁柏属Chamaecyparis和福建柏属Fokeinia)、侧柏族Thujopsideae(包括:崖柏属Thuja、罗汉柏属Thujopsis和侧柏属Platycladus)、圆柏族Junipereae(包括:圆柏属Juniperus和海参威柏属Microbiota)以及香漆柏族Tetraclineae(包括:翠柏属Calocedrus和香漆柏属Tetraclinis)。澳洲柏亚科又分3族,即澳洲柏族Actinostrobeae(包括:西澳柏属Actinostuobus、澳洲柏属Callitris、智利柏属Fitzroya和杉叶柏属Neocallitropsis)、南非柏族Widdring-toneae(包括:白智利柏属Pilgerodendron、塔斯曼柏属Diselma和南非柏属Widdringtonia)以及甜柏族Libocedreae(包括:甜柏属Libocedrus、巴布亚柏属Papuacedrus和南美柏属Austrocedrus)。柏科21个属的地理分布可划分为5种类型,即:(     

Cones, Seeds, and Foliage of Tetraclinis Salicornioides (Cupressaceae) from the Oligocene and Miocene of Western North America: A Geographic Extension of the European Tertiary Species

The cupressaceous genus Tetraclinis is recognized from the Oligocene and Miocene of western North America on the basis of co-occurring seed cones, seeds, and foliage branches. Morphological and anatomical comparisons with the two previously recognized European Tertiary species indicate that the North American specimens are morphologically inseparable from Tetraclinis salicornioides (Unger) Kvacek. The North American taxon is treated as a new variety, T. salicornioides (Unger) Kvacek var. praedecurrens (Knowlton) comb. et stat. nov., and is distinguished from the European representatives, T. salicornioides (Unger) Kvacek var. salicornioides, by slight anatomical differences in the leaf epidermis. Although cones and seeds of the fossil species are closely similar to those of extant Tetraclinis articulata, the foliage is more "spreading," composed of flattened segments with fused facial and lateral leaves that are apparently adaptive for a more mesic climate. The recognition of T. salicornioides in western North America along with the absence of Tetraclinis in the fossil and recent flora of eastern Asia provide evidence for communication of the species across the North Atlantic during the early or middle Tertiary.     

The first Gondwanan Euphorbiaceae fossils reset the biogeographic history of the Macaranga-Mallotus clade

Premise

The spurge family Euphorbiaceae is prominent in tropical rainforests worldwide, particularly in Asia. There is little consensus on the biogeographic origins of the family or its principal lineages. No confirmed spurge macrofossils have come from Gondwana.

Methods

We describe the first Gondwanan macrofossils of Euphorbiaceae, represented by two infructescences and associated peltate leaves from the early Eocene (52 Myr ago [Ma]) Laguna del Hunco site in Chubut, Argentina.

Results

The infructescences are panicles bearing tiny, pedicellate, spineless capsular fruits with two locules, two axile lenticular seeds, and two unbranched, plumose stigmas. The fossils' character combination only occurs today in some species of the Macaranga-Mallotus clade (MMC; Euphorbiaceae), a widespread Old-World understory group often thought to have tropical Asian origins. The associated leaves are consistent with extant Macaranga.

Conclusions

The new fossils are the oldest known for the MMC, demonstrating its Gondwanan history and marking its divergence by at least 52 Ma. This discovery makes an Asian origin of the MMC unlikely because immense oceanic distances separated Asia and South America 52 Ma. The only other MMC reproductive fossils so far known are also from the southern hemisphere (early Miocene, southern New Zealand), far from the Asian tropics. The MMC, along with many other Gondwanan survivors, most likely entered Asia during the Neogene Sahul-Sunda collision. Our discovery adds to a substantial series of well-dated, well-preserved fossils from one undersampled region, Patagonia, that have changed our understanding of plant biogeographic history.     

A new Oligocene Calocedrus from South China and its implications for transpacific floristic exchanges

? Premise of the Study: Calocedrus is among the genera with a typical eastern Asian-western North American disjunct distribution today. The origin of its modern distribution pattern can be better understood by examining its fossil record. ? Methods: The present article reports for the first time a new fossil species of this genus based on compressed material from the Oligocene Ningming Formation of Guangxi, South China, in its present major distribution area in eastern Asia. ? Key Results: Calocedrus huashanensis sp. nov. is most similar to the two extant eastern Asian species, C. macrolepis and C. formosana, in gross morphology of foliage shoots and bears a close resemblance to the latter in cuticle structure. It shows a general similarity to the North American fossil representatives of the genus in alternately branched foliage shoots but is clearly different from the European Paleogene species characterized by oppositely branched leafy shoots. ? Conclusions: This discovery provides new evidence for the floristic exchange of this genus between eastern Asia and North America before the Oligocene (most likely in the Eocene), presumably via the Bering land bridge. The flattened leafy shoots and dimorphic leaves with thin cuticle, open stomatal pits, and shallowly sunken guard cells of the present fossils suggest a rather humid climate during the Oligocene in the Ningming area, South China.     

SHOOT VASCULAR SYSTEM AND PHYLLOTAXIS OF CASUARINA (CASUARINACEAE)

In species of Casuarina with multileaved whorls, each stem vascular bundle divides radially into two at the site of a leaf trace separation, and the same two bundles rejoin acropetally to where the trace supplies a leaf. Such divisions are divisions of a single vascular bundle, and the rejoining of bundles forms a single bundle. Proposals that the extant primary vascular systems of dicotyledons may have been derived as in conifers are incorrect in so far as Casuarina is concerned, or the system has evolved beyond that so far proposed for dicotyledons. Reasons are offered, however, for considering that fernlike leaf gaps are not present. Leaf traces supply leaves at the first nodes distal to their origins. The ways by which an increase or decrease of stem bundles occur are described. Phyllotactic patterns range from helical (rare) to whorled. In the embryo, where leaves occur decussately, of certain species with multileaved whorls, and in the shoot apices of species with tetramerous whorls, slight differences in the levels of leaf attachments and the bending of leaf traces indicate the probable evolution of extant whorled phyllotaxies from one or more helical arrangements. Stages in the evolution are suggested. The leaves in most species with multileaved whorls are in true whorls. The original periderm of branchlets lies internally to the internodal traces and chlorenchyma, but is otherwise external to the vascular system. It is concluded that each leaf originates at its level of separation from the axis despite several structural features suggesting that the leaf bases have become congenitally adnate to the stem.     

THE MOTION OF WINDBORNE POLLEN GRAINS AROUND CONIFER OVULATE CONES: IMPLICATIONS ON WIND POLLINATION

Comparisons are presented between the three-dimensional airflow patterns created around and by a scale model of a conifer ovulate cone and the trajectories of windborne pollen grains around Picea, Larix, and Pinus ovulate cones. Three general components of the airflow pattern around an ovulate cone model are 1) doldrum-like eddies, rotating over the adaxial surfaces of cone scales and directed toward attached ovules, 2) airflow spiralling around the cone axis along cone scale orthostichies and parastichies, and 3) a complex pattern of vortices (“umbilicus”) directed toward the leeward surface of the ovulate cone. The observed trajectories of pollen grains around cones of Picea, Larix, and Pinus conform to two of these three airflow components: 1) pollen grains are seen to roll along cone scales toward the distal scale margin and to become reentrained in airflow directed backward toward attached ovules, and 2) pollen grains passing around the cone are deflected into the “umbilicus” airflow pattern, where they either settle on or impact with cone scales (approach trajectories), or where they approach the leeward cone surface but are deflected away by airflow passing under the cone (Z-shaped trajectories). Vectoral analyses of pollen grain motion reveal a complex pattern of trajectories influenced by boundary layer conditions defined by ovulate cone geometry and ambient airflow speed. Wind tunnel studies of ovulate cones subtended by leaves and stem indicate that leaves circumscribing the cone act as a snowfence, deflecting windborne pollen toward the cone. Vectoral analyses of airflow patterns and pollen grain trajectories close to ovulate cones indicate that wind pollination in conifers is a non-stochastic aerodynamic process influenced by cone-leaf morphology and the behavior of pollen grains as windborne particles.     

Evolutionary timescale of monocots determined by the fossilized birth‐death model using a large number of fossil records

Although the phylogenetic relationships between monocot orders are sufficiently understood, a timescale of their evolution is needed. Several studies on molecular clock dating are available, but their results have been biased by their calibration schemes. Recently, the fossilized birth‐death model, a type of Bayesian dating method, was proposed, and it does not require prior calibration and allows the use all available fossils. Using this model, we conducted divergence‐time estimations of monocots to explore their evolutionary timeline without calibration bias. This is the first application of this model to seed plants. The dataset contained the matK and rbcL chloroplast genes of 118 monocot genera covering all extant orders. We employed information from 247 monocot fossils, which exceeded previous dating analyses that used a maximum of 12 monocot fossils. The crown group of monocots was dated to approximately the Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous periods, and most extant monocot orders were estimated to diverge throughout the Early Cretaceous. Our results overlapped with the divergence time of insect lineages, such as beetles and flies, suggesting an association with pollinators in early monocot evolution. In addition, we proposed three new orders based on divergence time: Orchidales separated from Asparagales and Tofieldiales and Arales separated from Aslimatales.     

THE PHYLOGENETIC RELATIONSHIPS AND BIOGEOGRAPHY OF TRUE PORPOISES (MAMMALIA: PHOCOENIDAE) BASED ON MORPHOLOGICAL DATA

Prior studies of phylogenetic relationships among phocoenids based on morphology and molecular sequence data conflict and yield unresolved relationships among species. This study evaluates a comprehensive set of cranial, postcranial, and soft anatomical characters to infer interrelationships among extant species and several well-known fossil phocoenids, using two different methods to analyze polymorphic data: polymorphic coding and frequency step matrix. Our phylogenetic results confirmed phocoenid monophyly. The division of Phocoenidae into two subfamilies previously proposed was rejected, as well as the alliance of the two extinct genera Salumiphocaena and Piscolithax with Phocoena dioptrica and Phocoenoides dalli . Extinct phocoenids are basal to all extant species. We also examined the origin and distribution of porpoises within the context of this phylogenetic framework. Phocoenid phylogeny together with available geologic evidence suggests that the early history of phocoenids was centered in the North Pacific during the middle Miocene, with subsequent dispersal into the southern hemisphere in the middle Pliocene. A cooling period in the Pleistocene allowed dispersal of the southern ancestor of Phocoena sinus into the North Pacific (Gulf of California).     

Welwitschiaceae from the Lower Cretaceous of northeastern Brazil

Welwitschiaceae, a family in the Gnetales, is known today from only one extant species, Welwitschia mirabilis. This species is distributed in the Namibian desert, along the western coast of southern Africa, about 10 km inland from the coast. Very little is known about the fossil record of this family. Lower Cretaceous megafossils of various organs, assigned to Welwitschiaceae, are presented here. These fossils include young stems with paired cotyledons attached (Welwitschiella austroamericana n. gen. et sp.), isolated leaves (Welwitschiophyllum brasiliense n. gen. et sp.), and axes bearing male cones (Welwitschiostrobus murili n. gen. et sp.). They were collected in the Crato Formation, which is dated by palynomorphs and ostracods as Late Aptian (114 to 112 million years ago). These sediments are exposed in the Araripe Basin of northeastern Brazil. This study brings together new information of the megafossil record of Welwitschia-like plants and also reports of pollen said to be similar to that of Welwitschia from Lower Cretaceous sediments.     

壳斗科的地质历史及其系统学和植物地理学意义

在收集整理现有壳斗科化石资料的基础上,讨论了壳斗科及其各属的起源时间、地史分布和地史 演替过程以及这些化石资料在系统学和植物地理学上的意义。白垩纪尚无壳斗科可靠的大化石记录, 微化石需要进一步研究才能确定亲缘关系以及古新世壳斗科已经分化出两个类群。从以上这些事实推 论壳斗科起源于白垩纪晚期,而壳斗科现代各属出现的时间应不晚于古新世。最早发现的壳斗科化石和现代栗亚科和水青冈亚科在形态结构上非常相似,这一事实表明,壳斗科分为两个亚科的观点更接近客观事实。在水青冈亚科中,三棱栎类的化石最早出现;在栎属中,青冈亚属更接近祖先类群;在地史中全缘栎类较具齿栎类出现早,粗齿的落叶栎类出现最晚。三棱栎属、栲属和石栎属的化石在老第三纪出现于北美和欧洲的事实说明,北美、欧洲和东亚在老第三纪时有一个相通的壳斗科植物区系。南美的三棱栎是通过北美进入南美的。中国横断山、欧洲地中海沿岸和北美西北部有一类形态特征相似、亲缘关系相近的硬叶栎类,它们之间有相同的地质演替历史,它们现代分布边界可能就是古地中海的边界。美洲的栎类有两个来源,常绿硬叶栎类是通过古地中海沿岸而经北美-欧洲陆桥到达的,落叶栎类则是在中新世以后通过白令海峡到达的。     

Fossils of the Fagaceae and their implications in systematics and biogeography

The fossil history of the Fagaceae from China and its systematic and biogeographic implications are discussed based on revisionary studies of the fossil records. No creditable macrofossil record of the Fagaceae exists in the Cretaceous deposits and all the Cretaceous microfossil reports remain equivocal and require further study. The Paleocene fossils show the appearance and diversification of the two groups corresponding to the subfamilies Fagoideae and Castaneoideae sensu Nixon. By the Eocene, all modern genera had been present. The oldest fagaceous fossils represent subfamily Fagoideae with affinities to the extant genus Trigonobalanus. The leaf fossil genus Berryophyllum, with affinities to Quercus subg. Cyclobalanopsis, has been documented by the early Eocene and might have occurred earlier than other fossils assignable to Quercus. The appearance of evergreen sclerophyllous Ouercus with entire leaves might have occurred earlier than those with toothed leaves. Deciduous, urticoid-leaved oak fossils (Quercus subg. Quercus sect. Quercus) had not appeared until the Miocene. Fossil equivalents of Trigonobalanus, Castanopsis and Lithocarpus had occurred in Europe and North America by the early Tertiary, suggesting that continuous distributions were achieved via the northern hemisphere land bridges. Three groups of evergreen sclerophyllous oaks of apparent close phylogenetic relationships occurred in the Hengduan mountains, the Mediterranean area and northwestern North America. Their fossil forms have become dominant elements of those vegetation zones since the Miocene. A shared fossil history indicates a possible biogeographic boundary formed by the ancient Mediterranean. The evidence suggests that the oaks might arrive in North America during two distinct geologic periods: evergreen sclerophyllous entire-leaved oaks appeared by the Early Tertiary, whereas thedeciduous oaks with urticoid leaves appeared in the Late Tertiary.     

Perissothallus, a new genus for Late Pennsylvanian–Early Permian noncalcareous algae conventionally assigned to Schizopteris (aphleboid foliage)

The morphogenus Schizopteris was established in the early 19th century for late Palaeozoic aphleboid foliage of uncertain affinities, and numerous specimens have subsequently been assigned to this taxon. Some of these fossils do not represent foliage, but rather noncalcareous algae. Although this inconsistency has been noted, an attempt to exclude the algae from Schizopteris has not yet been undertaken. Here we propose the new genus Perissothallus to accommodate those fossils conventionally assigned to Schizopteris that represent algae. The name P. versiformis is introduced for the type species from the Upper Pennsylvanian of Kansas (USA). Specimens from the Lower Permian of Germany are interpreted as a second species of Perissothallus , and the name P. densus is proposed. Perissothallus consists of erect cylindrical branches that radiate from a small holdfast and dichotomize repeatedly. Vegetative reproduction occurs in the form of daughter thalli produced on prostrate branches. Similarities in basic structure exist between Perissothallus and members of the extant algal genera Codium (Chlorophyta), Dictyota (Phaeophyta), and Scinaia (Rhodophyta).  © 2007 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2007, 153 , 477–488.     

Fossil moonseeds from the Paleogene of West Gondwana (Patagonia,Argentina)

Premise of the Study

The fossil record is critical for testing biogeographic hypotheses. Menispermaceae (moonseeds) are a widespread family with a rich fossil record and alternative hypotheses related to their origin and diversification. The family is well‐represented in Cenozoic deposits of the northern hemisphere, but the record in the southern hemisphere is sparse. Filling in the southern record of moonseeds will improve our ability to evaluate alternative biogeographic hypotheses.

Methods

Fossils were collected from the Salamanca (early Paleocene, Danian) and the Huitrera (early Eocene, Ypresian) formations in Chubut Province, Argentina. We photographed them using light microscopy, epifluorescence, and scanning electron microscopy and compared the fossils with similar extant and fossil Menispermaceae using herbarium specimens and published literature.

Key Results

We describe fossil leaves and endocarps attributed to Menispermaceae from Argentinean Patagonia. The leaves are identified to the family, and the endocarps are further identified to the tribe Cissampelideae. The Salamancan endocarp is assigned to the extant genus Stephania. These fossils significantly expand the known range of Menispermaceae in South America, and they include the oldest (ca. 64 Ma) unequivocal evidence of the family worldwide.

Conclusions

Our findings highlight the importance of West Gondwana in the evolution of Menispermaceae during the Paleogene. Currently, the fossil record does not discern between a Laurasian or Gondwanan origin; however, it does demonstrate that Menispermaceae grew well outside the tropics by the early Paleocene. The endocarps’ affinity with Cissampelideae suggests that diversification of the family was well underway by the earliest Paleocene.     

Cone and ovule development in Cunninghamia and Taiwania (Cupressaceae sensu lato) and its significance for conifer evolution

We examined the early developmental stages of the seed cones and seeds of two conifer genera, Cunninghamia and Taiwania, using scanning electron microscope (SEM) images of freshly collected material. In recent similar studies, these two taxa were not described. The present paper aims to fill that gap. Both genera appear to have features crucial to the understanding of the evolution of the cupressaceous cone, characteristic of the families Cupressaceae and Taxodiaceae, and provide further evidence for the need to merge these families. These features are: the ovuliferous scale in Cunninghamia develops as a small lobe with each of three ovules; in Taiwania these lobes are absent, but a small ridge could be a vestige of them. In neither of these two genera does an ovuliferous scale develop to maturity and only limited intercalary growth transforms the bracts, of which only their width and final shape distinguishes them from sterile leaves. Thus, the bracts, not the ovuliferous scales, form the mature cone in these two genera. This trend is continued in more derived genera of Cupressaceae. Another key extant taxon that has helped to elucidate the evolution of this type of conifer cone is Sciadopitys; similar studies have already been done on this genus, and we compared our findings to them. We also considered certain fossil Mesozoic conifer cones, which shed further light on the evolution of the cupressaceous cone. The evidence from these various genera strongly indicates that recently reconstructed phylogenies of gymnosperms based on molecular evidence from extant taxa do not reflect the evolution that actually happened. Such studies need to take into account nonmolecular evidence, as detailed here.