Florissant Flora (Eocene of the United States)

Where: Colorado (38.9° N, 105.3° W: paleocoordinates 40.4° N, 96.9° W)

• coordinate based on nearby landmark

• small collection-level geographic resolution

When: Chadronian (37.2 - 33.9 Ma)

• group of beds-level stratigraphic resolution

Environment/lithology: lacustrine; tuffaceous, volcaniclastic siliciclastic sediments

Size class: macrofossils

Preservation: mold/impression, original carbon

Collection methods: quarrying,

Primary reference: H. D. MacGinitie. 1953. Fossil Plants of the Florissant Beds of Colorado. Carnegie Inst. of Washington, Contributions to Paleontology Publ. 599:1-198 [C. Labandeira/C. Labandeira/M. Kosnik]more details

Purpose of describing collection: taxonomic analysis

PaleoDB collection 24209: authorized by Hallie Sims, entered by Heather Lindon on 02.08.2002, edited by Monica Arakaki, Bruce Tiffney and Jocelyn Sessa

Creative Commons license: CC BY (attribution)

Taxonomic list

Show authors, comments, and common names
unclassified
  -
Plagiopodiopsis scudderi, Plagiopodiopsis cockerelliae, Conzattia coriacea n. sp., Thouinia straciata, Pellea antiquella, Apocymospermum sp.1, Diplodipelta reniptera n. gen.2
Plagiopodiopsis scudderi
Britton and Hollick
Plagiopodiopsis cockerelliae
(Britton and Hollick) Steere
Conzattia coriacea n. sp.
MacGinitie
Thouinia straciata
MacGinitie
Pellea antiquella
Cockerell
Diplodipelta reniptera n. gen.2
emend.
Ginkgoopsida
 Ephedrales - Ephedraceae
Ephedra miocenica
Ephedra miocenica jointfir
Wodehouse
Carpites
  -
Carpites miliodes, Carpites gemmaceus
Carpites miliodes
Lesquereux
Carpites gemmaceus Lesquereux 1883
Lesquereux
Polypodiopsida
 Polypodiales - Polypodiidae
Dryopteris guyottii
Dryopteris guyottii
(Lesquereux) new comb.
 Equisetales - Equisetidae
Equisetum florissantense
Equisetum florissantense Cockerell 1915 horsetail
Cockerell
Antholithes
  -
Antholithes amoenus, Antholithes pediloides
Antholithes amoenus Lesquereux 1883
Lesquereux
Antholithes pediloides Cockerell 1915
Cockerell
Musci
  - Mniaceae
Archaeomnium brownii
Archaeomnium brownii
(Kirchner) LaMotte
Jungermanniopsis cockerellii
  -
Jungermanniopsis cockerellii
Jungermanniopsis cockerellii Howe and Hollick 1922
Howe and Hollick
Angiospermae
  -
Angiospermae indet.
Angiospermae indet.
winged fruits
 Laurales - Lauraceae
Persea florissantia n. sp., Lindera coloradica n. sp., Sassafras hesperia
Persea florissantia n. sp. laurel
MacGinitie
Lindera coloradica n. sp. laurel
MacGinitie
Sassafras hesperia sassafras
Berry
 Dioscoreales - Dioscoreaceae
Dioscorea sp.1
Dioscorea sp.1 Linnaeus 1753 yam
 Mesangiosperms - Arecaceae
Palmites sp.1
Palmites sp.1 Hector 1880 palm
 Poales - Cyperaceae
Cyperacites lacustris n. sp.
Cyperacites lacustris n. sp. sedge
Knowlton
 Poales - Poaceae
Stipa florissanti
Stipa florissanti feather grass
(Knowlton) new comb.
 Poales - Typhaceae
Typha lesquereuxi
Typha lesquereuxi Cockerell 1908 bulrush
Cockerell
 Poales - Juncaceae
Juncus crassulus1
Juncus crassulus1 Cockerell 1908 rush
Cockerell
 Liliales - Smilacaceae
Smilax labidurommae
Smilax labidurommae Cockerell 1914 greenbrier
Cockerell
 Proteales - Platanaceae
Platanus florissanti n. sp.
Platanus florissanti n. sp. plane tree
MacGinitie
 Proteales - Proteaceae
Lomatites spinosa
Lomatites spinosa Lesquereux 1883
(Lesquereux) Cockerell
 Solanales - Solanaceae
Florissantia speirii1
Florissantia speirii1 Manchester 1992 nightshade
(Lesquereux) new comb.
 Solanales - Convolvulaceae
Convolvulites orichitus
Convolvulites orichitus MacGinitie 1953 bindweed
MacGinitie
 Lamiales - Oleaceae
Osmanthus praemissa
Osmanthus praemissa Lesquereux 1883
(Lesquereux) Cockerell
 Garryales - Eucommiaceae
Eucommia sp.1
Eucommia sp.1 Oliver 1890
 Apiales - Araliaceae
Araliaceae indet., Panax andrewsii, Oreopanax dissecta
Araliaceae indet. Jussieu 1789
Araliaceous fruits
Panax andrewsii Cockerell 1908 ginseng
Cockerell
Oreopanax dissecta
(Lesquereux) new comb.
 Dipsacales - Adoxaceae
Sambucus newtoni
Sambucus newtoni Cockerell 1908 elder
Cockerell
 Aquifoliales - Aquifoliaceae
Ilex knightiaefolia
Ilex knightiaefolia Lesquereux 1883 holly
Lesquereux
 Asterales - Asteraceae
Aster florissantia
Aster florissantia Cockerell 1908 daisy
Cockerell
 Caryophyllales -
Phenanthera petalifera
Phenanthera petalifera Hollick 1907
Hollick
 Saxifragales - Saxifragaceae
Philadelphus minutus n. sp., Hydrangea fraxinifolia
Philadelphus minutus n. sp. mock-orange
MacGinitie
Hydrangea fraxinifolia hydrangea
(Lesquereux) Brown
 Saxifragales - Grossulariaceae
Ribes errans n. sp.
Ribes errans n. sp. currant
MacGinitie
 Ranunculales - Berberidaceae
Mahonia marginata, Mahonia obliqua n. sp., Mahonia subdenticulata
Mahonia marginata barberry
(Lesquereux) Arnold
Mahonia obliqua n. sp. barberry
MacGinitie
Mahonia subdenticulata barberry
(Lesquereux) new comb.
Dicotyledoneae
 Ericales - Styracaceae
Halesia reticulata
Halesia reticulata silverbell
MacGinitie
 Myrtales - Myrtaceae
Eugenia arenaceaeformis
Eugenia arenaceaeformis myrtle
(Cockerell) new comb.
Angiospermae
 Piperales - Aristolochiaceae
Aristolochia mortua
Aristolochia mortua Cockerell 1908 birthwort
Cockerell
 Alismatales - Potamogetonaceae
Potamogeton geniculatus1, Potamogeton verticillatus, Palaeopotamogeton florissanti
Potamogeton geniculatus1 Braun 1845 pondweed
Al. Br. Rejected by MacGinitie because of missing specimens, but now reinstated based on new material
Potamogeton verticillatus Lesquereux 1883 pondweed
Lesquereux
Palaeopotamogeton florissanti Knowlton 1916 pondweed
Knowlton
 Najadales - Vallisneriaceae
Limnobium obliteratum
Limnobium obliteratum Cockerell 1908
Cockerell
 Najadales - Najadaceae
Najadopsis rugulosa
Najadopsis rugulosa Lesquereux 1883
Lesquereux
 Rosids - Moraceae
Ficus bruesi, Ficus florissantella, Ficus florissantia, Morus symmetrica
Ficus bruesi Cockerell 1910 fig
Cockerell
Ficus florissantella Cockerell 1908 fig
Cockerell
Ficus florissantia Knowlton 1916 fig
Knowlton
Morus symmetrica Cockerell 1908 mulberry
Cockerell
 Sapindales - Simaroubaceae
Ailanthus americana
Ailanthus americana Cockerell 1908
Cockerell
 Sapindales - Rutaceae
Ptelea cassiodes, Ptelea sp.1
Ptelea cassiodes hoptree
(Lesquereux) new comb.
Ptelea sp.1 Linnaeus 1753 hoptree
Ptelea-like fruits these are distinct from the Diplodipelta fruits that MacGinitie had attributed to Ptelea. They wre described as Brachyruscus alleni and considered to be Liliaceous by Cockerell
 Sapindales - Anacardiaceae
Cotinus fraterna, Rhus lesquereuxi, Rhus obscura, Rhus stellariaefolia, Schmaltzia vexans, Astronium truncatum
Cotinus fraterna Lesquereux 1883 cashew
(Lesquereux) Cockerell
Rhus lesquereuxi sumac
Knowlton and Cockerell
Rhus obscura sumac
(Lesquereux) new comb.
Rhus stellariaefolia sumac
(Lesquereux) new comb.
Schmaltzia vexans Lesquereux 1883 cashew
(Lesquereux) Cockerell
Astronium truncatum cashew
(Lesquereux) new comb.
 Sapindales - Burseraceae
Bursera serrulata
Bursera serrulata
(Lesquereux) new comb.
 Sapindales - Sapindaceae
Athyana haydenii, Sapindus coloradensis, Dodonaea umbrina, Acer florissanti, Acer oregonianum, Acer macginitiei1, Dipteronia insignis, Dipteronia brownii1, Cardiospermum terminalis, Koelreuteria alleni
Athyana haydenii soapberry
(Lesquereux) new comb.
Sapindus coloradensis Cockerell 1908 soapnut
Cockerell
Dodonaea umbrina soapberry
MacGinitie
Acer florissanti Kirchner 1898 maple
Kirchner
Acer oregonianum Knowlton 1902 maple
Knowlton
Acer macginitiei1 Wolfe and Tanai 1987 maple
(Chaney) new comb.
Dipteronia insignis soapberry
(Lesquereux) Brown
Dipteronia brownii1 soapberry
new species created for the fruits
Cardiospermum terminalis soapberry
(Lesquereux) new comb.
Koelreuteria alleni golden rain tree
(Lesquereux) Edwards
 Sapindales - Meliaceae
Cedrela lancifolia, Trichilia florissanti
Cedrela lancifolia mahogany
(Lesquereux) Brown
Trichilia florissanti mahogany
(Lesquereux) new comb.
 Crossosomatales - Staphyleaceae
Staphylea acuminata
Staphylea acuminata Lesquereux 1873 bladdernut
Lesquereux
 Malvales - Malvaceae
Sterculia rigida
Sterculia rigida Lesquereux 1883 tropical chestnut
Lesquereux
 Malvales - Thymelaeaceae
Daphne septentrionalis
Daphne septentrionalis
(Lesquereux) new comb.
 Malvales - Tiliaceae
Tilia populifolia
Tilia populifolia Lesquereux 1883 linden
Lesquereux
 Rosales - Rhamnaceae
Zizyphus florissanti, Rhamnites pseudostenophyllus, Colubrina spireafollia
Zizyphus florissanti buckthorn
(Lesquereux) new comb.
Rhamnites pseudostenophyllus buckthorn
(Lesquereux) new comb.
Colubrina spireafollia buckthorn
(Lesquereux) new comb.
 Rosales - Rosaceae
Rosaceae indet.1, Cercocarpus myricaefolius, Vauquelinia coloradensis, Prunus gracilis, Rubus coloradensis1, Rosa hilliae
Rosaceae indet.1 Jussieu 1789 rose
Rosaceous fruits figured but not discussed by MacGinitie
Cercocarpus myricaefolius rose
(Lesquereux) new comb.
Vauquelinia coloradensis rose
(Knowlton) new comb.
Prunus gracilis plum
(Lesquereux) new comb.
Rubus coloradensis1 bramble
MacGinitie
Rosa hilliae Lesquereux 1883 rose
Lesquereux
 Rosales - Pomaceae
Crataegus copeana, Crataegus hendersoni, Crataegus nupta, Crataegus sp., Amelanchier scudderi, Malus florissantensis, Malus pseudocredneria
Crataegus copeana hawthorn
(Lesquereux) new comb.
Crataegus hendersoni hawthorn
(Cockerell) new comb.
Crataegus nupta hawthorn
(Cockerell) new comb.
Crataegus sp. Linnaeus 1753 hawthorn
Knowlton
Amelanchier scudderi Cockerell 1906 shadbush
Cockerell
Malus florissantensis
(Cockerell) new comb.
Malus pseudocredneria
(Cockerell) new comb.
 Rosales - Mimosaceae
Prosopis linearfolia
Prosopis linearfolia mesquite
Lesquereux
 Rosales -
Caesalpinites acuminatus, Caesalpinites coloradicus
Caesalpinites acuminatus
(Lesquereux) new comb.
 Rosales - Papilionaceae
Phaseolites dedal n. sp.
Phaseolites dedal n. sp.
MacGinitie
 Rosales - Ulmaceae
Ulmus tenuinervis, Cedrelospermum sp.1, Cedrelospermum lineatum1, Celtis mccoshii
Ulmus tenuinervis Lesquereux 1873 elm
Lesquereux
Cedrelospermum sp.1 Saporta 1889 elm
(Lesquereux) new comb.
Cedrelospermum lineatum1 elm
(Lesquereux) Brown
Celtis mccoshii Lesquereux 1883 hackberry
Lesquereux
 Celastrales - Celastraceae
Celastrus typica
Celastrus typica bittersweet
(Lesquereux) new comb.
 Fagales - Juglandaceae
Carya libbeyi, Carya florissantensis1
Carya libbeyi hickory
(Lesquereux) new comb.
Carya florissantensis1 hickory
Manchester
 Fagales - Fagaceae
Castanea dolichophylla, Fagopsis longifolia, Quercus dumosoides, Quercus orbata, Quercus perdayana n. sp., Quercus schottii, Quercus mohavensis, Quercus knowltoniana, Quercus scudderi, Quercus lyratiformis, Quercus balaninorum, Quercus peritula
Castanea dolichophylla chestnut
Cockerell
Fagopsis longifolia Lesquereux 1872
(Lesquereux) Hollick
Quercus dumosoides oak
new name
Quercus orbata oak
new name
Quercus perdayana n. sp. oak
MacGinitie
Quercus schottii oak
(Lesquereux) new comb.
Quercus mohavensis Axelrod 1939 oak
Axelrod
Quercus knowltoniana Cockerell 1908 oak
Cockerell
Quercus scudderi Knowlton 1916 oak
Knowlton
Quercus lyratiformis Cockerell 1908 oak
Cockerell
Quercus balaninorum Cockerell 1908 oak
Cockerell
Quercus peritula Cockerell 1908 oak
Cockerell
 Malpighiales - Salicaceae
Populites heeri, Populus pyrifolia, Populus crassa, Salix coloradica n. sp., Salix ramaleyi, Salix libbeyi
Populites heeri
(Lesquereux) new comb.
Populus pyrifolia Kirchner 1898 poplar
Kirchner
Populus crassa Lesquereux 1883 poplar
(Lesquereux) Cockerell
Salix coloradica n. sp. willow
MacGinitie
Salix ramaleyi Cockerell 1906 willow
Cockerell
Salix libbeyi Lesquereux 1883 willow
Lesquereux
 Malpighiales - Euphorbiaceae
Croton furculatum, Euphorbia minuta
Croton furculatum rushfoil
Cockerell
Euphorbia minuta spurge
(Knowlton) new comb.
 Fabales - Fabaceae
Vicia sp., Phaca wilmattae, Leguminosites lespedezoides n. sp., Cercis parvifolia
Vicia sp. Linnaeus 1753 vetch
Knowlton
Phaca wilmattae Cockerell 1908 legume
Cockerell
Leguminosites lespedezoides n. sp. legume
MacGinitie
Cercis parvifolia Lesquereux 1883 redbud
Lesquereux
 Vitales - Vitaceae
Parthenocissus osbornii
Parthenocissus osbornii
(Lesquereux) new comb.
 Coniferales - Cupressaceae
"Hypnum haydenii" = Juniperus haydenii, Chamaecyparis linguaefolia, Sequoia affinis
"Hypnum haydenii" = Juniperus haydenii Lesquereux 1874 juniper
Lesquereux
Chamaecyparis linguaefolia cypress
(Lesquereux) new comb.
Sequoia affinis Lesquereux 1876 coast redwood
Lesquereux
Pinopsida
 Pinales - Taxaceae
Torreya geometrorum
Torreya geometrorum yew
(Cockerell) new comb.
 Pinales - Pinaceae
Abies longirostris, Pinus hambachi, Pinus florissanti, Pinus wheeleri, Picea lahontense, Picea magna n. sp.
Abies longirostris fir
Knowlton
Pinus hambachi Kirchner 1898 pine
Kirchner
Pinus florissanti Lesquereux 1883 pine
Lesquereux
Pinus wheeleri Cockerell 1908 pine
Cockerell
Picea lahontense spruce
MacGinitie
Picea magna n. sp. spruce
MacGinitie
Orontium
  -
Orontium fossile
Orontium fossile
Cockerell
 Sphaeriales - Sphaeriaceae
Didymosphaeria betheli
Didymosphaeria betheli Cockerell 1908
Cockerell
Hexactinellida
 Lychniscosa - Camerospongiidae
Robinia lesquereuxi
Robinia lesquereuxi glass sponge
(Lesquereux) new comb.
Chaneya tenuis
  -
Chaneya tenuis1
Chaneya tenuis1 Wang and Manchester 2000
(Lesquereux) Wang and Manchester
Deviacer
  -
Deviacer sp.1
Deviacer sp.1 Manchester 1994
1Manchester 2001; 2Manchester and Donoghue 1995