PALAEOCARPINUS (EXTINCT BETULACEAE) FROM NORTHWESTERN CHINA - NEW EVIDENCE FOR PALEOCENE FLORISTIC CONTINUITY BETWEEN ASIA, NORTH-AMERICA, AND EUROPE

Spiny-bracted fruits of Palaeocarpinus Crane, a genus of Betulaceae pr eviously known only from Europe and North America, have been discovere d in the Paleocene of Altai, northwestern China. The fruits are found in association with abundant Corylus-like foliage and staminate catkin s containing Corylus-like pollen. Because of problems distinguishing l eaves of Corylus from those of extinct betulaceous genera, we place th ese leaves in the genus Corylites Gardner ex Seward & Holttum. The fru its, staminate catkins, pollen, and leaves from Altai were probably al l produced by a single species. Palaeocarpinus orientalis is nearly id entical in its morphology to Palaeocarpinus joffrensis from the Paleoc ene of North America except in the more rounded primary bracts of the associated staminate catkins. The species is less similar to Palaeocar pinus laciniata from the Paleocene of southern England.