Biology:Ruffordia

From HandWiki

Ruffordia is an extinct genus of cosmopolitan ferns that thrived during the Mesozoic[1] and Cenozoic Eras, particularly from the Jurassic through the Cretaceous periods with the last species dying out during the Eocene.[2][3] It was notable for being a widespread and abundant ground cover in open, savanna-like ecosystems, especially in regions dominated by gymnosperms[4][3] and early angiosperms.[3] Ecologically, Ruffordia was quite similar to the modern Bracken fern (Pteridium), which also forms dense, clonal colonies across open habitats.[5][6] Despite this similarity, it was closer phylogenetically to Schizaeales[7].[3] Three species are known, Ruffordia gopperti, Ruffordia acrodenta[8] and Ruffordia subcretacea.[2]

Ecology

Ruffordia likely was adapted for colonization of disturbed freshwater swamp plains, taking advantage of the destruction of competitor plants.[9] There is also evidence of Ruffordia acting as a host species for galling insects.[9]

Distribution

Fossils are known from New Zealand, China, Peru, Brazil,[3] Canada, Spain, Belgium, The United States, Madagascar, South Korea and Germany.[10]

References

  1. ↑ Dettmann, Mary E.; Clifford, H. Trevor (1992-01-01). "Phylogeny and biogeography of Ruffordia, Mohria and Anemia (Schizaeaceae) and Ceratopteris (Pteridaceae): evidence from in situ and dispersed spores". Alcheringa: An Australasian Journal of Palaeontology 16 (4): 269–314. doi:10.1080/03115519208619111. ISSN 0311-5518. Bibcode: 1992Alch...16..269D. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Wilde, Volker; Frankenhäuser, Herbert (1998-06-01). "The Middle Eocene plant taphocoenosis from Eckfeld (Eifel, Germany)". Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology 101 (1): 7–28. doi:10.1016/S0034-6667(97)00067-5. ISSN 0034-6667. Bibcode: 1998RPaPa.101....7W. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0034666797000675. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Mohr, Barbara A. R.; Bernardes-de-Oliveira, Mary E. C.; Loveridge, Robert; Pons, Denise; Sucerquia, Paula Andréa; Castro-Fernandes, Maria C. (2015-05-01). "Ruffordia goeppertii (Schizaeales, Anemiaceae) – A common fern from the Lower Cretaceous Crato Formation of northeast Brazil". Cretaceous Research 54: 17–26. doi:10.1016/j.cretres.2014.11.006. ISSN 0195-6671. Bibcode: 2015CrRes..54...17M. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0195667114002171. 
  4. ↑ Kim, Jong-Heon; Nam, Kye-Soo; Lee, Seong-Bok; Jeon, Yeong-Seok (2016-09-30). "Fossil Plants from the Early Cretaceous Hasandong Formation of Chilgok Area, Korea". Journal of the Korean Earth Science Society 37 (5): 295–308. doi:10.5467/jkess.2016.37.5.295. ISSN 1225-6692. 
  5. ↑ Alonso-Amelot, Miguel E.; Rodulfo-Baechler, Serbia (1996-08-01). "Comparative spatial distribution, size, biomass and growth rate of two varieties of bracken fern (Pteridium aquilinum L. Kuhn) in a neotropical montane habitat" (in en). Vegetatio 125 (2): 137–147. doi:10.1007/BF00044647. ISSN 0042-3106. 
  6. ↑ Dodonov, Pavel; Xavier, Rafael de Oliveira; Matos, Dalva Maria da Silva (2023-12-01). "Temporal dynamics of the superdominant bracken fern Pteridium arachnoideum in Neotropical savanna-riparian forest transitions" (in en). Rodriguésia 74. doi:10.1590/2175-7860202374078. ISSN 0370-6583. https://www.scielo.br/j/rod/a/HZHSKYHNtT3SnBsVr6zmvxN/?lang=en. 
  7. ↑ Smith, Alan R.; Pryer, Kathleen M.; Schuettpelz, Eric; Korall, Petra; Schneider, Harald; Wolf, Paul G. (2008-06-19), Ranker, Tom A.; Haufler, Christopher H., eds., "Fern classification", Biology and Evolution of Ferns and Lycophytes (Cambridge University Press): pp. 417–467, doi:10.1017/cbo9780511541827.017, ISBN 978-0-521-87411-3, https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/CBO9780511541827A148/type/book_part, retrieved 2026-03-27 
  8. ↑ Knowlton, F. H. (1919). "A catalogue of the Mesozoic and Cenozoic plants of North America". United States Geological Survey Bulletin: 1. doi:10.3133/b696. Bibcode: 1919usgs.rept....1K. 
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Sender, Luis M.; Villanueva-Amadoz, Uxue; Wappler, Torsten; Diez, José B.; Cobos, Alberto (2025-02-01). "Colonisation of disturbed deltaic paleoenvironments from the Early Cretaceous (Albian): Inferences from an exceptional record of the fern Ruffordia goeppertii (Dunker) Seward from northeastern Spain". Cretaceous Research 166. doi:10.1016/j.cretres.2024.106018. ISSN 0195-6671. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0195667124001915. 
  10. ↑ "†Ruffordia Seward 1894 (fern)". https://paleobiodb.org/classic/basicTaxonInfo?taxon_no=txn:414128. 

Wikidata ☰ Q123458242 entry



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