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ABSTRACT
Nothotsuga is a monotypic genus of Pinaceae endemic to southern China today. Molecular data indicate that Nothotsuga split from Tsuga during the Palaeogene with the earliest fossils from the upper Eocene of North Europe. However, Nothotsuga fossil has not been reported from China. Here, we describe several well-preserved seed cones from the upper Miocene of Tiantai County, Zhejiang Province, China. The fossil cones are characterised by ovate to elliptic shapes, rhombic to suborbicular and auriculate scales, and exserted subspathulate bracts with dentate margin and acute or acuminate apical cusp. These cones are ascribed to a new species Nothotsuga sinogaia sp. nov. based on detailed comparisons with all extant genera of Pinaceae. The present discovery indicate that Nothotsuga had a more northern distribution during the late Miocene and the increased annual range of monthly-mean temperature might have restricted its modern distribution to several scattered and fragmental areas in southern China.
Acknowledgments
We are grateful to the two reviewers for their constructive comments and suggestions. This work was supported by the Strategic Priority Research Program (B) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences [grant number XDB26000000], the National Natural Science Foundation of China [grant numbers 41972010 and 31870200], the Second Tibetan Plateau Scientific Expedition and Research Program [Grant 2019QZKK0704], and the State Key Laboratory of Palaeobiology and Stratigraphy, Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences [grant number 183124].
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.