New Species of Angiosperm Pollen from the Dakota Formation (Cenomanian, Upper Cretaceous) of Minnesota, U.S.A

• Published in: Palynology Vol. 32; no. 1; pp. 17 - 26
• Main Authors: Hu, Shusheng, Jarzen, David M, Dilcher, David L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: AASP Foundation 01.01.2008; American Association of Stratigraphic Palynologists; American Association of Stratigraphic Palynologists Foundation
• Subjects: angiosperm pollen; Angiospermae; Angiosperms; assemblages; biostratigraphy; Brown County Minnesota; Cenomanian; Cenomanian age; Cretaceous; Cupuliferoidaepollenites microscabratus; Dakota Formation; Dryadopollis minnesotensis; Geology; Highways; Holotypes; Late Cretaceous; Lignite; lithostratigraphy; Mesozoic; microfossils; Minnesota; miospores; morphology; New species; new taxa; Nicollet County Minnesota; Nyssapollenites microfoveolata; Paleobotany; paleoecology; Palynology; palynomorphs; Phimopollenites striolata; Plantae; Plicates; Pollen; Ptychotriporines; s; Sediments; SEM data; Spermatophyta; Stratigraphy; taxonomy; Tricolpites labeonis; Triptycha; United States; Upper Cretaceous
• ISSN: 0191-6122; 1558-9188
• DOI: 10.2113/gspalynol.32.1.17

Five new species of angiosperm pollen described from three localities in south-central Minnesota support a Cenomanian age for the Dakota Formation in this area. The new taxa, Cupliferoidaepollenites microscabratus, Dryadopollis minnesotensis, Nyssapollenites microfoveolata, Phimopollenites striolata, and Tricolpites labeonis, are described using both light and scanning electron microscopy, are easily recognizable, and are useful age indicator species. Because of the extent and transgressive nature of the Dakota Formation, age determination has been difficult. The new angiosperm pollen species described here may help to support age determination for the Dakota Formation over a broader geographic area.