Araucarioides

Araucarioides
Temporal range: Campanian–Eocene
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Gymnospermae
Division: Pinophyta
Class: Pinopsida
Order: Araucariales
Family: Araucariaceae
Genus: Araucarioides
Bigwood and Hill, 1985
Type species
†Araucarioides linearis
Bigwood and Hill, 1985
Other species
  • Araucarioides falcata Pole, 1995

Araucarioides is an extinct genus of conifer belonging to the family Araucariaceae. The type species Araucarioides linearis is known from the Early Eocene of Tasmania, with fossils including isolated leaves (which typify the genus), parts of the conifer cone, as well as possible seeds, associated with Dilwynites tuberculatus pollen. Another species only known from leaves, Araucarioides falcata is known from the Late Cretaceous (Campanian) of New Zealand. Phylogenetic analysis suggests that Araucarioides linearis is closely related to both Agathis and Wollemia rather than to Araucaria.[1]

  1. ^ Slodownik, Miriam; Escapa, Ignacio; Mays, Chris; Jordan, Greg; Carpenter, Raymond; Hill, Robert S (2023-06-05). "Araucarioides: A polar lineage of Araucariaceae with new Paleogene fossils from Tasmania, Australia". International Journal of Plant Sciences. 184 (8): 640–658. doi:10.1086/726183. ISSN 1058-5893.