The fossil record of leaves with galls

Andrew C. Scott, Jonathan Stephenson, Margaret Collinson

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Abstract

A few scattered examples of galls on plant fossils have been reported from the late Palacozoic and early Mesozoic. A more extensive record exists in the Cretaceous, largely coincident with the first radiation of angiosperms and the earliest fossil occurrences of several insect groups known today to induce gall formation. In the Tertiary a higher diversity of gall types are encountered. This review incorporates new data on morphological diversity in galls from several large assemblages of Cretaceous and early Tertiary angiosperm leaves. These fossil galls have also been compared with possible modern analogues. The implications of the new evidence are briefly considered in the context of the evolution of this important plant-arthropod interaction.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationPlant galls
EditorsMichele A.J. Williams
Place of PublicationOxford, UK
PublisherClarendon Press
Pages447-470
Volume49
Edition49
ISBN (Print)0198577699
Publication statusPublished - 1995

Publication series

NameSystematics Association special volume
PublisherClarendon Press
Number49

Keywords

  • Plant galls
  • plant fossils
  • Cretaceous
  • Tertiary
  • angiosperm leaves
  • morphology
  • plant-animal interactions

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