A new taxon of staminate inflorescences Bogutchanthus gen. nov (Hamamelidales) from the Paleocene of the Amur Region

Staminate inflorescences from the Paleocene deposits of the Amur Region (Russia) are described as a new genus, Bogutchanthus N. Maslova, Kodrul et Tekleva, on the basis of micromorphological characters. The inflorescences under description combine characters of the families Platanaceae and Hamamelidaceae (order Hamamelidales). Along with capitate inflorescences, tetramerous flowers with a differentiated perianth, and the presence of staminodes-typical characters of Cretaceous platanaceous plants-the new genus also shows some features that are known in extant and fossil members of the Hamamelidaceae: a loosely packed inflorescence, free stamens, secondarily bisporangiate stamens, crescent pollen sacs, and pantocolpate pollen grains. The inflorescences are associated with entire-margined leaves of the platanoid type.