A list of prehistoric and extant species whose fossils have been found in the London Clay, which underlies large areas of southeast England.
Plant fossils, especially seeds and fruits, are found in abundance and have been collected from the London Clay for almost 300 years.Chandler, M.E.J. 1961. The lower Tertiary floras of southern England I. Palaeocene floras, London Clay flora. London: British Museum (Natural History). Some 350 named species of plant have been found, making the London Clay flora one of the world's most diverse for fossil seeds and fruits. The flora includes plant types found today in tropical forests of Asia and demonstrates the much warmer climate of the Eocene epoch, with plants such as Nypa (Nipah palms) and other palms being frequently encountered. The following plants list is incomplete and is based on the research by Marjorie Chandler. and research works done by the paleobotanist Steven R. Manchester and by professor of plant palaeobiology Margaret Collinson.
Plants
Pteridophytes Pteridaceae Acrostichum – mangrove fern Pteris sp. - brake Vittaria sp. – shoestring fern, similar to Vittaria lineata
Cyatheaceae – scaly tree fern Cyathea sp. – similar to Cyathea delgadii
Thyrsopteridaceae Thyrsopteris sp. – similar to Thyrsopteris elegans
Osmundaceae Osmunda sp. – similar to Osmunda javanica
Dryopteridaceae – wood fern, male fern Dryopteris sp.
Athyriaceae Diplazium sp. - similar to Diplazium smithianum
Onocleaceae Onoclea sp. – similar to Onoclea sensibilis (the sensitive fern)
Nephrolepidaceae – macho ferns Nephrolepis sp.
Salviniaceae – water ferns Azolla
Marsilea – water clover Marsilea sp. - similar to Marsilea quadrifolia
Lycopodiophytes Lycopodiaceae – clubmosses Lycopodium sp. Phylloglossum sp. – similar to Phylloglossum drummondii (pygmy clubmoss)
Gymnosperms Ginkgoaceae Ginkgo sp.
Cycadaceae Cycas sp. - similar to Cycas schumanniana
Zamiaceae Zamia sp. – similar to Zamia pumila
Araucariaceae – monkey puzzle, bunya pine, and Norfolk pine Agathis sp. - similar to Agathis dammara †Araucarites spp. †Doliostrobus stenbergi - fossils in the past named †Araucarites are said to be of this genus, it is now placed in its own family, †Doliostrobaceae.
Pinaceae Pinus spp.
Taxaceae ?Taxaceae indet. †Cephalotaxus bowerbanki – plum yew Torreya sp.
Cupressaceae †Callitris curta (Callitrites curta) – cypress pine †Cupressinites spp. Libocedrus adpressa †Quasisequoia couttsiae Sequoia sp Sequoiadendron fordi Widdringtonia sp. – African cypresses
Podocarpaceae Afrocarpus sp. – similar to Afrocarpus falcatus (common yellowwood) Podocarpus argillaelondinensis? Podocarpus sp. – similar to Podocarpus elatus (plum pine) Podocarpus sp. – similar to Podocarpus novae-caledoniae Podocarpus sp. – similar to Podocarpus nubigenus (Chilean podocarp, cloud podocarp) Prumnopitys sp. – similar to Prumnopitys andina (the Chilean plum yew)
Angiosperms Arecaceae – palms †Caryotispermum cantiense Corypha sp. Livistona minima Nypa burtini (syn. Nipa burtini) Oncosperma anglica †Palmospermum bracknellense †Palmospermum cooperi †Palmospermum davisi †Palmospermum elegans †Palmospermum jenkinsi †Palmospermum minutum †Palmospermum ornatum †Palmospermum ovale †Palmospermum subglobulare Sabal grandisperma Serenoa sp. ?Trachycarpus sp.
Cyclanthaceae Cyclanthus lakensis
Cyperaceae - sedges †Caricoidea obovata †Polycarpella caespitosa
Posidoniaceae - seagrass family Posidonia parisiensis
Nymphaeaceae – water lilies †Protobarclaya eocenica Victoria sp - similar to Victoria cruziana
Magnoliaceae Liriodendron gardneri - tulip tree Magnolia angusta Magnolia crassa Magnolia davisi Magnolia lata Magnolia lobata Magnolia oblonga Magnolia pygmaea Magnolia rugosa Magnolia subquadrangularis Magnolia symmetrica
Myristicaceae - nutmeg family †Myristicacarpum chandlerae
Annonaceae - the custard apple family Alphonsea sp. †Anonaspermum anonijorme - related to the genera Anonna and Polyalthia, most similar species is Annona muricata †Anonaspermum cerebellatum - Uvaria, Melodorum and Orophea shows closest resemblance to the fossil †Anonaspermum commune †Anonaspermum complanatum - related to Anonna and Melodorum †Anonaspermum corrugatum - related to the genera Anonna and Melodorum †Anonaspermum minimum - related to Dasymaschalon clusiflorum †Anonaspermum obscurum †Anonaspermum ovale - related to the genera Anonna and Melodorum †Anonaspermum pulchrum - related to Dasymaschalon clusiflorum †Anonaspermum punctatum - related to the genera Bocagea, Orophea, Unonopsis, and Guatteria †Anonaspermum rotundatum - distantly related to Polyauhia †Anonaspermum rugosum †Anonaspermum subcompressum Asimina sp. - similar to Asimina reticulata Orophea sp. Polyalthia sp. Rollinia sp. Uvaria sp.
Lauraceae – avocado and cinnamon family Beilschmiedia bognorensis Beilschmiedia eocenica Beilschmiedia gigantea Beilschmiedia oviformis Beilschmiedia pyriformis
Cinnamomum grande Cinnamomum globulare Cinnamomum oblongum Cinnamomum ovoideum
†Crowella globosa
Endiandra spp.
†Laurocalyx bowerbanki †Laurocalyx dubius †Laurocalyx fibrotorulosus †Laurocalyx globularis †Laurocalyx magnus
†Laurocarpum crassum †Laurocarpum cupuliferum †Laurocarpum davisi †Laurocarpum inornatum †Laurocarpum minimum †Laurocarpum minutissimum †Laurocarpum ovoideum †Laurocarpum paradoxum †Laurocarpum proteum †Laurocarpum pyrocarpum †Laurocarpum sheppeyense
Litsea pyriformis
Ocotea sp.
†Protoaltingia europaea
†Protoravensara sheppeyensis
Aristolochiaceae - birthwort family Aristolochia sp.
Schisandraceae Illicium sp. - similar to Illicium floridanum
Dilleniaceae Hibbertia bognorensis Tetracera? cantiensis Tetracera crofti Tetracera eocenica
Platanaceae – sycamore or plane tree †Plataninium decipiensPoole, I., K.L. Davies and H.P. Wilkinson 2002. A review of the platanaceous woods from the Eocene paratropical rainforest of southeast England. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 139: 181–191.
Proteaceae Dryandra acutiloba
Fagaceae – beech, oak and chestnut family †Quercinium pasanioides
Betulaceae – birch, alder and hornbeams Alnus richardsoni (syn. Petrophiloides richardsoni) – an alder
Ticodendraceae †Ferrignocarpus bivalvis
Myricaceae - wax-myrtle, bayberry family Myrica boveyana
Juglandaceae – walnut, hickory and pecan family †Juglandicarya bognorensis †Juglandicarya cooperi †Juglandicarya depressa - the most common Juglandacarya species in the London Clay †Juglandicarya lubbocki †Juglandicarya minuta †Petrophiloides richardsoni - among the two most abundant Juglandaceae species in the London Clay †Pterocaryopsis bognorensis - related to the genus Pterocarya
Trochodendraceae Trochodendron pauciseminum
Haloragaceae †Haloragicarya sp.
Sabiaceae †Bognoria venablesi Meliosma cantiensis Meliosma jenkinsi Meliosma sheppeyensis
Menispermaceae – moon seed family †Bowerbankella tiliacoroidea †Davisicarpum gibbosum Diploclisia bognorensis †Eohypserpa parsonsi †Frintonia ornata Hypserpa sp. Jatrorrhiza sp. †Menispermicarpum rariforme †Menispermoxylon - close to the extant genus Tinomiscium †Microtinomiscium foveolatum †Palaeococculus lakensis †Palaeosinomenium pulchrum †Tinomiscoidea scaphiformis Tinospora excavata †Wardenia davisi
Cardiopteridaceae Citronella sp.
Torricelliaceae Toricellia sp. - very similar to Torricellia bonesii from the Clarno Formation of Oregon
Hamamelidaceae – witch-hazel family Corylopsis? bognorensis Corylopsis? latisperma Corylopsis venablesi †Jenkinsella sp. †Protoaltingia europaea
Altingiaceae Altingia sp. Liquidambar palaeocenica - sweetgum
Oleaceae Fraxinus sp.
Styracaceae Styrax sp.
Theaceae Camellia sp. - tea Gordonia sp. Stewartia sp.
Pentaphylacaceae Eurya sp.
Symplocaceae – sapphire-berry, sweet leaf. Symplocos curvata Symplocos quadrilocularis Symplocos trilocularis Symplocos bognorensis
Ericaceae ?Leucopogon quadrilocularis Lissanthe sp. Rhododendron sp.
Sapotaceae †Sapoticarpum rotundatum †Sapoticarpum latum †Sapoticarpum duhium †Sapotispermum sheppeyense - allied to Chrysophyllum and Sideroxylon
Bataceae - saltwort or beachwort Batis sp. - similar to Batis maritima
Myrtaceae †Hightea elliptica †Hightea turgida †Myrtospermum variabile †Palaeorhodomyrtus subangulata - allied to Rhodomyrtus
Staphyleaceae ?Tapiscia sp. - bladdernut
Fabaceae Acacia sp. – similar to Vachellia farnesiana Caesalpinia sp. - seed pods very similar to seed pods of C. claibornensis from the middle Eocene of Tennessee Dalbergia sp. †Leguminocarpon gardneri - seed pods most compatible to seed pods of species in Caesalpinia and Peltogyne †Leguminocarpon nervosum †Mimosites browniana
Rosaceae Rubus sp.
Elaeagnaceae Elaeagnus sp. - oleaster, silverberry
Myrsinaceae Ardisia eocenica
Rhizophoraceae - mangrove Ceriops sp. †Palaeobruguiera elongata †Palaeobruguiera lata
Salicaceae Oncoba variabilis †Oncobella sp. † Saxifragispermum spinosissimum
Linaceae †Decaplatyspermum bowerbanki †Wetherellia variahilis - related to Hugonia
Nyctaginaceae - the four o'clock family Pisonia sp. - the birdcatcher tree
Olacaceae Erythropalum europaeum - Only one extant species of this genus which is a scandent shrubs or liana Erythropalum jenkinsi Erythropalum turbinatum Olax depressa
Lamiaceae Satureja sp.
Boraginaceae Ehretia clausentia Ehretia ehretioides Heliotropium sp.
Solanaceae †Cantisolanum daturoides Datura sp. - similar to Datura ferox Datura sp. - similar to Datura metel
Apocynaceae - the dogbane family Allamanda sp. †Ochrosella ovalis †Ochrosoidea sheppeyensis
Burseraceae - the incense tree family Boswellia sp. †Bursericarpum aldwickense †Bursericarpum bognorense †Bursericarpum ovale †Bursericarpum venablesi †Palaeobursera bognorensis †Protocommiphora europaea
Anacardiaceae Choerospondias sheppeyensis Dracontomelon minimum Dracontomelon subglobosum Lannea europaea Lannea jenkinsi †Lobaticarpum variabile Mangifera sp. - mango Odina europaea Odina jenkinsi Odina subreniformis Poupartia sp. †Pseudosclerocarya subalata †Spondiaecarpon operculatum - according to several botanists, the pyritized specimens, originally described as Spondiaecarpon operculatum, represent locule casts of Torricellia sp. †Xylocarya sp.
Onagraceae †Palaeeucharidium cellulare - allied to Eucharidium
Lythraceae †Cranmeria trilocularis †Minsterocarpum alatum - closely related to the crape myrtle or crepe myrtle genus Lagerstroemia †Pachyspermum quinqueloculare †Tamesicarpum polyspermum
Malvaceae †Cantitilia polysperma
Elaeocarpaceae †Echinocarpus sheppeyensis
Moraceae – mulberry and fig family Artocarpus sp. – breadfruit Ficus sp. – fig Maclura sp. ?Morus sp.
Urticaceae †Urticicarpum scutellum
Euphorbiaceae - the spurge family Aleurites sp. Croton sp. Euphorbia sp. – similar to Euphorbia cotinifolia †Euphorbiospermum bognorense †Euphorbiospermum cooperi †Euphorbiospermum eocenicum †Euphorbiospermum obliquum †Euphorbiospermum subglobulare †Euphorbiospermum subovoideum †Euphorbiospermum venablesi †Euphorbiotheca minima †Euphorbiotheca sheppeyensis †Lagenoidea bilocularis †Lagenoidea trilocularis
Manihot sp. – cassava †Wetherellia variabilis
Cucurbitaceae - the gourd family †Cucurbitospermum cooperi †Cucurbitospermum equiaelaterale †Cucurbitospermum sheppeyense †Cucurbitospermum triangulare
Vitaceae Ampelopsis sp. †Palaeovitis sp. Tetrastigma corrugata Tetrastigma davisi Tetrastigma elliotti Tetrastigma sheppeyensis:*†Vitacexoylon sp. - close to the extant genus Rhoicissus Vitis bilobata Vitis bognorensis Vitis bracknellensis Vitis elegans Vitis longisulcata Vitis magnisperma Vitis obovoidea Vitis platyformis Vitis pygmaea Vitis rectisulcata Vitis semenlabruscoides Vitis subglobosa Vitis venablesi
Sapindaceae – soapberry Atalaya sp. – similar to Atalaya variifolia from Australia †Cupanoides grandis - related to Cupania †Cupanoides tumidus - related to Cupania †Palaeallophylus minimus †Palaeallophyllus ovoideus