Microvictoria svitkoana is a fossil species of aquatic plant, which occurred in the Cretaceous period of New Jersey, USA.Gandolfo, M. A., Nixon, K. C., & Crepet, W. L. (2004). "Cretaceous flowers of Nymphaeaceae and implications for complex insect entrapment pollination mechanisms in early angiosperms." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 101(21), 8056-8060.
Description Generative characteristics The pedunculate, actinomorphic flowers are 2.3-3.4 mm long, and 1.2-1.6 mm wide. The peduncle is 0.4-1.8 mm long. Both staminoids and fertile stamens are present.
Taxonomy Publication It was published by Maria Alejandra Gandolfo, Kevin C. Nixon, and William L. Crepet in 2004.
Type specimen The type specimen was collected in the Old Crossman Clay Pit, Sayreville, New Jersey, USA.
Position within Nymphaeales It is placed in the family Nymphaeaceae. This placement has been questioned by different authors, who believe it may be placed outside of the order Nymphaeales.Friis, E. M., Crane, P. R., & Pedersen, K. R. (2011). "Early Flowers and angiosperm evolution." p. 204. Cambridge University Press.Löhne, C. (2006). "Molecular Phylogenetics and Historical Biogeography of Basal Angiosperms – A Case Study in Nymphaeales" [Dissertation, Rheinischen Friedrich–Wilhelms–Universität Bonn]. It has been proposed to include it in a newly described family Microvictoriaceae Doweld with a possible affinity to the order Illiciales.Doweld A.B. 2022. New names of fossil Nymphaeaceae and allied forms. Geophytology 52(1&2): 1–28.
Etymology The generic name Microvictoria expresses an affinity to the extant genus Victoria. The specific epithet svitkoana honours Jennifer L. Svitko, a lab technician of the Cornell University.Jennifer Svitko. (n.d.). Cornell CALS. Retrieved February 6, 2024, from https://cals.cornell.edu/jennifer-svitkoLab members. (n.d.). Cornell University. Retrieved February 6, 2024, from https://bhort.bh.cornell.edu/histology/memb.html
Ecology Pollination It was pollinated by insects.Angiosperm Pollination. (2021, August 24). Digital Atlas of Ancient Life. Retrieved February 6, 2024, from https://www.digitalatlasofancientlife.org/learn/embryophytes/angiosperms/angiosperm_pollination/
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