<em>Vitis</em> Seeds (Vitaceae) from the Late Neogene Gray Fossil Site, Northeastern Tennessee, USA.

<p>This study focuses on the morphometric and systematic studies of fossil vitaceous seeds recently recovered from the Gray Fossil Site (7-4.5 Ma, latest Miocene-earliest Pliocene) northeastern Tennessee. Morphologically, all fossil seeds correspond to the extant subgenus <em>Vitis</em> (genus <em>Vitis</em>) of the Vitaceae based on the smooth dorsal surface with a centrally positioned chalaza connected with a conspicuous chalaza-apex groove and short linear ventral infolds that are slightly diverged apically. A multivariate analysis based on 11 measured characters from 76 complete seeds identified three types of seeds, each representing a distinct morphotaxon. Based on comparison with modern and fossil vitaceous specimens, three new species were recognized: <em>Vitis grayana</em> sp. nov., <em>Vitis lanatoides</em> sp. nov., and <em>Vitis latisulcata</em> sp.nov. The close resemblance between the first two fossil grapes (<em>Vitis grayana</em> and <em>Vitis lanatoides</em>) with extant eastern Asian <em>Vitis</em> provides further evidence that the eastern Asian floristic elements existing in the southeastern North American flora continued to as late as late Neogene.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

MS (Master of Science)

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis - unrestricted

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Biology

Year dc:date.issued

2009

Author dc:creator

• Gong, Fade

• Vitis
• seeds
• Morphometrics
• Phytogeography
• Late Neogene
• Gray fossil flora
• Morphology
• Earth Sciences
• Paleobiology
• Physical Sciences and Mathematics

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright by the authors.

Repository record dc:identifier

https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/1819

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dc.etsu.edu:etd-3171