Sciadopityaceae

Sciadopityaceae
Temporal range: Middle Jurassic–Recent
Sciadopitys verticillata
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Gymnospermae
Division: Pinophyta
Class: Pinopsida
Order: Pinales
Family: Sciadopityaceae
Luerss.
Genera

Sciadopityaceae, commonly called umbrella pines, is a family of conifers now endemic to Japan but in prehistoric times they could also be found in Europe and China. The sole living member of the family is Sciadopitys verticillata, while several extinct genera are known from the fossil record. Wood suggested to belong to the family has been reported from the Jurassic of China,[1][2] though the relationship of pre-Cretaceous fossils to Sciadopitys is ambiguous. Sciadopitys species are known from the Late Cretaceous of Japan before becoming widespread across Laurasia during most of the Cenozoic, especially in Europe until the Pliocene.[3]

  1. ^ a b Jiang, Z.; Tian, N.; Wang, Y.; Li, Y.; Zheng, S.; Xie, A.; Zhu, Y. (2022). "A new structurally preserved fossil umbrella pine from the Jurassic of East Asia". Geological Journal. 57 (9): 3521–3537. Bibcode:2022GeolJ..57.3521J. doi:10.1002/gj.4467. S2CID 249799441.
  2. ^ Jiang, ZiKun; Wang, YongDong; Zheng, ShaoLin; Zhang, Wu; Tian, Ning (2012-02-01). "Occurrence of Sciadopitys-like fossil wood (Coniferales) in the Jurassic of western Liaoning and its evolutionary implications". Chinese Science Bulletin. 57 (6): 569–572. Bibcode:2012ChSBu..57..569J. doi:10.1007/s11434-011-4850-z. ISSN 1861-9541.
  3. ^ Hofmann, Christa-Ch.; Odgerel, Nyamsambuu; Seyfullah, Leyla J. (2021). "The occurrence of pollen of Sciadopityaceae Luerss. through time". Fossil Imprint. 77 (2): 271–281. doi:10.37520/fi.2021.019. ISSN 2533-4069. S2CID 245555379.