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<p>The Lauraceae family is ecologically significant in tropical and subtropical ecosystems. Among its members, the genus <i>Cryptocarya</i> has a limited fossil record from the Paleogene, particularly in Asia, which has hindered efforts to reconstruct its biogeographic and evolutionary history. This study describes a fossil leaf of <i>Cryptocarya</i> from the late Oligocene of northeast India, marking it the earliest known occurrence of this genus in Asia. The fossil, designated <i>Cryptocarya makumensis</i> sp. nov., provides valuable insights into the evolutionary history of the genus. Fossil is identified using NLR methodology as well as cluster analysis, and is compared with 93 species belonging to 23 extant families, using 22 leaf morphological traits and 81-character states. Results suggests that the Asian lineage of <i>Cryptocarya</i> likely have an east Gondwanan origin with its centre of diversification in Indian or Australian region. It also suggests floristics exchange between India and the Australia in the deeper time as suggested by the close affinity of modern Asian and Australian species. Additionally, the fossil also sheds light on the palaeoenvironment of the region during the late Paleogene, suggesting a tropical and humid climate with high rainfall in northeast India. Ultimately, this find enriches our understanding of the biogeographic history of the Lauraceae family across Asia.</p>

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Earliest fossil record of Cryptocarya R. Br. (Lauraceae) from Asia and its biogeographic and palaeoenvironmental implications

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年6月13日

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  • Harshita Bhatia,
  • Gaurav Srivastava

摘要

The Lauraceae family is ecologically significant in tropical and subtropical ecosystems. Among its members, the genus Cryptocarya has a limited fossil record from the Paleogene, particularly in Asia, which has hindered efforts to reconstruct its biogeographic and evolutionary history. This study describes a fossil leaf of Cryptocarya from the late Oligocene of northeast India, marking it the earliest known occurrence of this genus in Asia. The fossil, designated Cryptocarya makumensis sp. nov., provides valuable insights into the evolutionary history of the genus. Fossil is identified using NLR methodology as well as cluster analysis, and is compared with 93 species belonging to 23 extant families, using 22 leaf morphological traits and 81-character states. Results suggests that the Asian lineage of Cryptocarya likely have an east Gondwanan origin with its centre of diversification in Indian or Australian region. It also suggests floristics exchange between India and the Australia in the deeper time as suggested by the close affinity of modern Asian and Australian species. Additionally, the fossil also sheds light on the palaeoenvironment of the region during the late Paleogene, suggesting a tropical and humid climate with high rainfall in northeast India. Ultimately, this find enriches our understanding of the biogeographic history of the Lauraceae family across Asia.