Abstract
A new species,Nyssa talamancana, with fruits larger than those of any other, either living or fossil, is described from Costa Rica and Panama. In size, number of germination valves, and surface-sculpturing, its endocarps resemble those of the fossil assemblage more than those of the other living species. The occurrence of this distinctive new member of a definitely Laurasian family, in association with other endemic or nearly endemic Laurasian taxa, at wet mid-elevations lends credence to the idea that these forests harbor remnants of the really ancient flora of southern Central America.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Literature Cited
Crepet, W. L. & K. C. Nixon. 1989. Earliest megafossil evidence of Fagaceae: phylogenetic and biogeographic implications. Amer. J. Bot. 76: 842–855.
Eyde, R. H. 1963. Morphological and paleobotanical studies of the Nyssaceae. I. A survey of the modern species and their fruits. J. Arnold Arbor. 44: 1–59.
— 1988. ComprehendingCornus: puzzles and progress in the systematics of the dogwoods. Bot. Rev. 54: 233–351.
— & E. S. Barghoorn. 1963. Morphological and paleobotanical studies of the Nyssaceae. II. The fossil record. J. Arnold Arbor. 44: 328–376.
Gentry, A. H. 1982a. Phytogeographic patterns as evidence for a Chocó refuge. Pages 112–136.In: G. T. Prance, editor. Biological diversification in the tropics. Columbia Univ. Press, New York, NY.
— 1982b. Neotropical floristic diversity: phytogeographical connections between Central and South America, Pleistocene climatic fluctuations, or an accident of the Andean orogeny? Ann. Missouri Bot. Gard. 69: 557–593.
Gómez-Laurito, J. & H. W. Gómez. 1989.Ticodendron: a new tree from Central America. Ann. Missouri Bot. Gard. 76: 1148–1151.
Grayum, M. H. & H. W. Churchill. 1987. An introduction to the pteridophyte, flora of Finca La Selva, Costa Rica. Amer. Fern. J. 77: 73–89.
Hammel, B. E. 1986. Characteristics and phytogeographical analysis of a subset of the flora of La Selva (Costa Rica). Selbyana 9: 149–155.
Raven, P. R. & D. J. Axelrod. 1974. Angiosperm biogeography and past continental movements. Ann. Missouri Bot. Gard. 61: 539–673.
Rich, P. V. & T. H. Rich. 1983. The Central American dispersal route: biotic history and paleogeography. Pages 12–34.In: D. H. Janzen, editor. Costa Rican natural history. Univ. Chicago Press, Chicago, IL.
Standley, P. C. 1937. Flora of Costa Rica. Field Mus. Nat. Hist., Bot. Ser. 18: 5–63.
Toledo, V. M. 1982. Pleistocene changes of vegetation in tropical Mexico. Pages 93–111.In: G. T. Prance, editor. Biological diversification in the tropics. Columbia Univ. Press, New York, NY.
Van der Hammen, T. & A. M. Cleef. 1983.Trigonobalanus and the tropical amphi-pacific element in the North Andean forest. J. Biogeogr. 10: 437–440.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Hammel, B.E., Zamora, N.A. Nyssa talamancana (Cornaceae), an addition to the remanant Laurasian Tertiary flora of southern Central America. Brittonia 42, 165–170 (1990). https://doi.org/10.2307/2807205
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/2807205