Early flowers of primuloid Ericales from the Late Cretaceous of Portugal and their ecological and phytogeographic implications

A distinctive feature of the major eudicot diversification that occurred through Late Cretaceous is unequivocal presence Cornales and diverse Ericales. Here we describe well-preserved fossil flowers from Mira locality in western Portugal, Campanian-Maastrichtian age, assign to a new extinct genus Ericales with two species; Miranthus elegans gen. et sp. nov. kvacekii The are pedicellate, structurally bisexual, actinomorphic, pentamerous isomerous, five narrowly triangular persistent calyx lobes, five-lobed corolla, antepetalous stamens, staminodes alternating petals semi-inferior, unilocular ovary. ovary consists carpels has raised nectariferous ring stomata-like openings above insertion perianth, long five-angled style. key feature, which confirms relationship Primulaceae s. l., free, central dome-shaped placenta bears numerous, densely spaced ovules. matures into capsule containing many, minute, reticulate seeds. Flowers especially similar those extant Samolus, about twelve species sister group other genera subfamily Theophrastoideae disjunct distribution mainly Southern Hemisphere. also appears have grown environments influenced by marine conditions, an ecological preference seen Samolus. expands diversity known Cretaceous, together previously described fossils provides further evidence was already underway stages Cretaceous.