Ovule-bearing organs of Ginkgo ginkgoidea (Tralau) comb. nov., and associated leaves from the Middle Jurassic of Scania, South Sweden

Fossil seeds originally, described as Allicospermum ginkgoideum from the Middle Jurassic Mariedal Formation of Eriksdal, Scania, Sweden, are re-examined together with several new seeds and ovule-bearing organs discovered from the same locality and horizon. The ovule-bearing organs consist of a peduncle furcating into two (to three?) pedicels, each with a single sessile ovule supported by a cup-shaped collar. Ovules are ovate in outline with an obtusely acute or acute to mucronate apex and a broad base. Based on morphological and structural similarities to Ginkgo biloba, the ovulate organs and corresponding seeds are assigned to the genus Ginkgo, and a new combination, Ginkgo ginkgoidea, is suggested for the Scanian material. This is the first record of well-preserved ovulate organs of Ginkgo from the Jurassic of Europe. Leaves of Ginkgoites regnellii associated with G. ginkgoidea is also restudied in detail. Similarities in cuticular features between G. regnellii and G. ginkgoidea together with their close association strongly suggest that the two organ types were produced by the same plant as originally suggested by Tralau. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.