MORPHOLOGICAL VARIABILITY OF LEAVES IN "PLATANUS" RAYNOLDSII NEWBERRY FROM THE MAASTRICHTIAN OF THE KORYAK HIGHLAND

Abstract

Leaves of "Platanus" raynoldsii Newberry were widespread in the floras of the Northern Hemisphere predominantly in the Paleocene, and were also present in the Maastrichtian and Early Eocene. As in the majority of the Platanaccae, leaves of "P." raynoldsii are highly variable, which hampers their determination and classification. A collection of fossil leaves from the Maastrichtian deposits of the Koryak Highland is represented by a monotopic series, therefore, allowing us to define the range of morphological variability in this species. A continuous series of morphological variability is described; three basic leaf morphotypes of "P." raynoldsii are established. The variability of characters and their relationship are traced. Earlier described members of the species are revised.