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