Karkeniaceae Temporal range:
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Leaves and seeds of Karkenia henanensis (centre) with Yimaia recurva (top right) | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Gymnospermae |
Division: | Ginkgophyta |
Class: | Ginkgoopsida |
Order: | Ginkgoales |
Family: | †Karkeniaceae Krassilov, 1972 |
Genera | |
Karkenia Archangelsky, 1965 |
Karkeniaceae is an extinct family in the order Ginkgoales. It contains the single genus Karkenia. It is distinguished by "Ovulate organs consisting of a peduncle and helically arranged, up to about 100 small, orthotropous but incurved ovules; pedicel present; nucellus largely free." Unlike other ginkgoales, the seeds are borne on cone-like aggregations. Ovuluate organs of Karkenia are associated with leaves of the Ginkgoites, Sphenobaiera and Eretmophyllum types. It is known from the Hettangian to Aptian of both Hemispheres.[1]