Magnoliid reproductive organs from the Cenomanian-Turonian of north-western Kazakhstan: Magnoliaceae and Illiciaceae

Cenomanian-Turonian sediments from the Sarbay locality in north-western Kaz akhstan have yielded a rich assemblage of plant fossils including well pres erved flowers, fruits, and seeds of angiosperms. This work describes fossil seeds assigned to the Magnolinceae and the Illiciaceae. Three new species of the extinct magnoliaceous genus Liriodendroidea, L. asiatica, L. costata , and L. tenuitesta, are established and new information on the previously described species, L. alata, is provided. The Liriodendroidea seeds are clo sely similar to seeds of extant Liriodendron, but are distinguished in bein g much smaller and winged. A new genus and species, Illiciospermum pusillum , is established based on seeds with close similarity to those of the extan t genus Illicium. The seeds are small, anatropous and exotestal with outer epidermis of testa forming a palisade layer. The facets of the palisade cel ls have deeply undulate anticlinal walls. The micropyle area is seen on the outer integument as a transverse slit placed on a raised strophiole-like s tructure close to the hilum. The Illiciospermum seeds represent the first u nequivocal record of the Illiciaceae in the Cretaceous. Another seed of pos sible illiciaceous affinity is described as aff. Illiciospermum sp.