Late Oligocene Melia (Meliaceae) from the Nanning Basin of South China and it’s biogeographical implication

Abstract Melia L. is a small genus of only 2–3 species, which native to Indo-Malesia, India, Pakistan and southern parts tropical Africa. Fossil records are known from the early Miocene Pleistocene. Here we describe some mummified fossil endocarps upper part Yongning Formation (late Oligocene) in Nanning Basin, South China. These well-preserved stony 8–14 mm long 5–9 wide, have 5 locules with single spindle seed per locule. We interpret these as internal remains drupe, assign them new species: M. santangensis sp. nov. This record anatomically preserved found China, also oldest so far reported globally. The confirms presence Asia at late Oligocene, provides evidence supporting distribution dispersal hypothesis Meliaceae.