Fossil fruit of the Macadamieae (Proteaceae) in the Tertiary of eastern Australia: Eureka gen. nov. Mary E. DETTMANN H. Trevor CLIFFORD Queensland Museum, Geosciences, Hendra Facility, 122 Gerler Rd, Hendra, Qld 4011, Australia. Email: [email protected] Citation: Dettmann, M.E. &Clifford, H.T.201003 15. Fossilfruitofthe Macadamieae(Proteaceae) in the Tertiary of eastern Australia: Eureka gen. nov.. Memoirs ofthe Queensland Museum — Nature 55(1): 147-166. Brisbane. ISSN 0079-8835.Accepted: 13 October2009. ABSTRACT Eureka gen. nov. is proposed to accommodate fossil fruits recovered from several mid- Tertiary (early Oligocene-Miocene) sites in eastern Australia. The type (E. welcomensis sp. nov.) and other described species (E.(a/. Conchotheca) turgida (F. Muell.) comb, nov., E. spechtiisp. nov., E. harslettiae sp. nov.) have bilaterally symmetrical, ellipsoidal pericarps that are uniloculate, 1-seeded, and tardily dehiscent along the ventral suture and dorsal hinge line. The pericarp wall is radially structured and has a branched vasculature system capped by fibres embedded in a thick mesocarp; the radial fibres extend into the exocarp, and the endocarp is thin or lacking. The seed is orthotropous, attached apically and with a 2-layered seed coat that has an endotestal cuticle bearing impressionsoftransfercells. Eureka is morphologicallyand anatomicallyconsistentwith fruits ofextant members of Bleasdalea F. Muell., Hicksbeachia F. Muell., and Gevuina Molina ofsubtribe Gevuininae (tribe Macadamieae, family Proteaceae). Accordingly, the fossilfruitevidence impliesthattheGevuininae had aformerdistribution rangespanning some 20° of latitude in eastern Australia and taken togetherwith fossil cuticle evidence a trans-Tasman distribution no longer mirrored in the present vegetation. Eureka also displays some resemblance to the tardily dehiscent fruits of extant Panopsis (subtribe Macadamiinae, tribe Macadamieae); however, morphological/anatomical details of extant members are imprecisely known. Australia, Bleasdalea, Eureka, fossil fruit, Gevuina, Hicksbeachia, Macadamieae, Tertiary. Among recently recovered woody fossils mesocarp. Similarly structured pericarps charac- from Tertiary sediments at several localities terise fruits borne by extant genera of tribe in Queensland are several different types of Macadamieae. The distinctive vasculature 1-seeded, tardily dehiscent, uniloculate fruits patternwith'third-orderradialvascularbundles' with vascularised pericarps similar to those of (Johnson & Briggs 1975, p.134; Douglas 1995, fruits borne by several extant genera included p.18) comprises prolific radial branching of within tribe Macadamieae (Proteaceae) as the main vertical and lateral (tangentially- recently redefined (Weston & Barker 2006; Mast aligned) bundles in a woody ground mass of et al. 2008). The Queensland fossil fruits are predominantly radially oriented fibre sheaths spheroidal toellipsoidal, near-symmetrical about thatsurround the bundles as detailed for fruits the vertical axis, and their thick pericarp has a of several extant members of the tribe (Filla distinctive radial structure reflecting a branched 1926; Strohschen 1986a,b). The Queensland vasculature system embedded in a thick, woody fossil fruits with their near vertical symmetry, Memoirs ofthe Queensland Museum Nature • 2010 • 55(1) • www.qm.qld.gov.au 147 | Dettmann & Clifford near-smooth outer surface of pericarp, and shown to be insufficiently discriminatory of one apically attached unwinged seed having theextant taxa in parsimony analyses (Sauquet a 2-layered, non-woody seed coat are more et al. 2009); thus far, P. tripartus has not been similar to fruits of several genera Gevuina tested in any comparablecladistic analysis. ( Molina, Hicksbeachia F. Muell., and Bleasdalea F. Muell.) ofsubtribeGevuininaethan toother MATERIAL members of tribe Macadamieae. Previously described fossil fruits that possess a thick Fruitsreported upon here includewoody and pericarp with third order vasculature were charcoalified and permineralised specimens. assigned to Conchotheca turgidaF. Muell., a taxon The charcoalified specimens were recovered reported from mid-Tertiary deep lead sediments from subsurface sediments near Blackwater in Victoria (Mueller 1874a, Deane 1925) and and Moranbah, central Queensland and Tasmania (Johnston 1880). Mueller (1874a) did Bundaberg, southeastern Queensland and the notcommentonthebotanicalaffinityofC. turgida, permineralised specimensarefrom anoutcrop at butexaminationofhisprotocol materialconfirms Glencoe, central Queensland; all are held in the these fossils, too, are morphologically consonant Queensland Museum (QMF). Also examined are with fruits of subtribe Gevuininae, being similar woodyandcharcoalifiedfruitscollectedin thelate to those of Gevuina, Bleasdalea, and Hicksbeachia. 1800'sandearly1900'sfromseveralgoldfieldsites Evaluation of Mueller's protocol material and of in Victoria and New South Wales and housed the Queensland fossil fruits form the basis of the in the Queensland Museum, the Australian presentstudy. Moreover,comparisonshavebeen Museum (AMF) and the Museum of Victoria undertaken of the fossil material with fruits of (NMVP).Thelast-mentionedcollectioncontains extant Gevuina, Hicksbeachia, and Bleasdalea. the type and other specimens of the protocol Extant Gevuina is monotypic and endemic mwahtiecrhiawlaosf CoroingcihnoatlhleycahotuursgeiddaiFn.tMhueelMlu.,s1e87u4m, to southern South America; Bleasdalea has two species, one each in New Guinea and eastern of the Geological Survey of Victoria (GSVF). Locality details of occurrences of Eureka gen. Australia, and Hicksbeachia, with twospecies, is endemic toeastern Australia (Fig 1A; Weston & nov. are as follows (see also Fig. IB). Barker 2006). Fossil cuticles that are consistent Queensland, a) Picardy Station, near Moranbah with those of subtribe Gevuininae have been (21°5'17.6'S 147°50'34.3'E) RioTinto Exploration reported from Eocene sediments of Western Hole RDPD98MA21, sands, silts and lignites Australia (Carpenter & Pole 1995) and from at 123-133 m; Early Oligocene (Dettmann & the Miocene of New Zealand (Pole 1998). Clifford 2001). Fossil wood similar to, but not identical with, b)NearBlackwater(24°1'1.3'S148°48'50'E)South Gevuina has been reported from the Oligocene Blackwater Coal Pty Ltd Hole R8736, sands ofPatagonia (Pujana 2007). and lignites at 82m; Early-Late Oligocene The fossil pollen taxa, Propylipollis reticulo- (Dettmann & Clifford 2001). stcraipbarrattuussH(aHrarrirsi,s)whHiacrhrisocacnurd iMnarCtaimnp,aannidanP-. c)GlencoeStation(23°36SI48°06'E),nearCapella, Tertiary sediments of Australia, New Zealand silcrete outcrop; 01igocen&e-?Early Miocene and Antarctica, are morphologically similar to (Rozefelds1990;Rozefelds Christophel1996; pollen of Gevuina, Bleasdalea, and Hicksbeachia Dettmann&Clifford 2001). (Martin 1982; Dettmann & Jarzen 1990, 1996, d) N of Bundaberg (24° 46'49'S 152°18'17'E), 1998). P. reticuloscabratus however, has been HerbertsonWelcomeCreekDrain,subsurface 148 MemoirsoftheQueensland Museum Nature • 2010 • 55(1) | Fossil Proteaceous fruits sands and clays; Early Miocene (Dettmann withoutwhitening. Thinsectionsofcharcoalified & Clifford, 2003). specimens were cut using a slide microtome e) NearClifton (27°55'S151°55'E), Queensland and mounted in glycerinejelly on glass slides WaterResources borehole, sandsand lignites for transmitted light microscope analysis. Fragmentsofseveral specimenswere mounted at 45-46 m; Tertiary (?Miocene). on stubs and gold plated for scanning electron frlexv South Wales. Near Orange (33°17'S 149° microscope analysis. Anatomical features of 06'E, Forest Reefs Mine, deep lead sediments; seed coats were examined in transmitted light late Middle-early Late Miocene (Johnson 1989; after clearing in a weak solution of sodium Dettmann & Clifford 2001) hypochlorite, followed by thorough washing Victoria, a) Nintingabool (Crucible Co. Shaft), in distilled water. near Haddon (37° 18'S 146°32'E), SW of Photographs were captured on either T Max Ballarat, deep lead sediments; Oligocene- film or digitally using an Olympus Cameida Miocene (Greenwood et al. 2000; Dettmann & C-5050 camera. Images were processed using Clifford 2001; Holdgate et al. 2006). Photoshop 5LE. b) Foster(37°10'S146°14'E),deepleadsediments; SYSTEMATIC DESCRIPTION & Oligocene-Miocene (Rozefelds Christophel 1996; Holdgate et al. 2008). FAMILY - PROTEACEAEJUSS. Tasmania. Brandy Creek, Beaconsfield (41°12'S 148°49'E), deep lead sediments; Oligocene SUBFAMILY-GREVILLEOIDEAE ENGL. (Forsyth 1989) TRIBE - MACADAMIEAE C.VENKATA RAO METHODS SUBTRIBE GEVUININAE - L.A.S. Fruitsstudiedincludecarbonaceousspecimens JOHNSON & B.G. BRIGGS retaining well preserved morphological and anatomical characters of their woody tissues to Genus -Eureka gen.nov. severely vitrinised specimens retaining external and internal morphologybutwith fewanatomical Derivation of name. With reference to the characters preserved.Someof thecarbonaceous association of 'Eureka' (Eureka Stockade, Eureka fruits are pyritised and, as a result ofoxidation Flag, Eureka Deep Lead) with early gold mining since collection, several have fragmented. Per- activities in and around Ballarat, Victoria. mineralised specimens are composed of amorphous and/or cryptocrystalline quartz Generic diagnosis. Fruit unilocular, indehiscent that has preserved external and internal to tardily dehiscent woody follicle; ellipsoidal morphology of the fruits, but no anatomical or spheroidal, symmetrical about the vertical axis. Style base near-opposite stalk in the detail of the original tissues is preserved. vertical plane; ventral suture and dorsal hinge Charcoalified specimens were photographed line approximately equal in length; splitting eitherafterwhiteningwithammonium chloride along ventral suture and dorsal hinge into 2 tohighlightsurfacefeaturesorwithout whitening near equal portions. Surface smooth or near- to illustrate internal characters including those smooth. Pericarp largely composed of meso- of the locules, seeds, and internal anatomy. carp, the outer thicker part with a branched Permineralised specimens were photographed vascularsystemcomposed ofverticallyaligned Memoirs ofthe Queensland Museum Nature • 2010 • 55(1) 149 | Dettmann & Clifford FIG. 1. Polar stereographic projections, based on Lawver & Gahagan (2003). A, Present Day showing distribution-range ofextant members ofSubtribe Gevuininae (excluding Cardivellia); B, Early Miocene (20 Mya) showing localities offossil Eureka (*), fossil cuticles (C) ofSubtribe Gevuininae, and fossil wood (W) questionably allied toSubtribeGevuininae. (tangential) primary bundlesfrom which branch havingverticallyaligned, unbranched vascular radially aligned secondary bundles that are bundles in the mesocarp and laterally attached surrounded by tangentially and radially seeds. One taxon, C. turgida, allocated to aligned fibre bundles; fibres interspersed with Conchotheca by Mueller (1874a) ischaracterised parenchyma. Exocarp and endocarp thin. Seed by a pericarp with a branched vascular system solitary, unwinged, orthotropous, attached and an apically attached, orthotropous seed; apically, filling, or almost so, locule. Seed this species is transferred herein to Eureka. coat 2-layered, the outer layer incompletely enveloping the inner; outer layer a cuticle Eureka is distinct from Conchocaryon F. Muell. with impressions of transfer cells; inner layer a 1879, which has asymmetric fruits and laterally cuticle with anticlinal walls ofrectilinearcells. attached winged seeds (Mueller 1879; Dettmann Typespecies. Eurekawelcomensissp. nov. &Clifford2005). BothPlesiocapparisF. Muell.1871 Remarks and comparison. Eureka gen.nov. and Celyphina F. Muell. 1871 have indehiscent, accommodates uniloculate fruits having a unilocular, near-smooth fruits with branched branched vascular system surrounded by fibre vasculature in the mesocarp. They differ from bundles in the mesocarp, and a single apically Eureka in possessing large stonecell complexes attached, orthotropous seed. In these respects (not radially oriented fibres) that cap and Eureka differsfrom ConchothecaF. Muell.,emend. surround the vascular bundles in the fruit wall Dettmann&Clifford2005,whichincludesfruits (Dettmann & Clifford, in prep.). 150 MemoirsoftheQueensland Museum Nature • 2010 • 55(1) | Fossil Proteaceousfruits FIGS2-16. Eurekawelcomensisso. nov.; 2-4, Lateral, apical and basal viewsofholotypewithseed (arrowed), QMF51143; scalebar =5mm; 5-6, Pericarp, lateral view showingsurfaceofloculeandexternal lateral view showing V-shaped scar (arrowed) of style base, AMF11099; scale bar = 5 mm; 7, 8, Pericarp, surfaces of locule, lateral view, QMF51144; scale bar =5mm; 9, Detail of style scar (arrowed) on external surface of fruit, QMF51145; scale bar = 2.5 mm; 10, Pericarp wall, transverse section at right angles to the dorso- ventral plane showingvasculatureassociated with style base (arrow), QMF51145; scale bar = 1 mm; 11, 12, Pericarp wall, section in planeofdorsal hinge line and ventral sutureshowing vasculaturecomprising eroded vertical (v) bundles iscross section and radially aligned secondary bundles (r) surrounded by fibre complexesembedded ina ground massofparenchyma, QMF51145; scale'bar= 1 mm; 13,14, Pericarp wall, structure in transversesectionsshowingwall fibrebundlecomplexessurroundingvasculature, QMF51149; scale bar=100 pm; 15, 16, Pericarpwall in transversesectionshowingfibrebundlessurroundingbranched vasculatureand detail offibres,QMF51150;scalebar=100 gm and10 gmrespectively. MemoirsoftheQueensland Museum Nature • 2010 • 55(1) 151| | Dettmann & Clifford Species - Eureka welcomensis sp. nov. Dimensions. Pericarp (8 specimens); vertical (Figs 2-24) axis12.5 (18.5) 23 mm, lateral axes 12.5 (16.8) 22 mm mm (in plane of dehiscence) x 10 (15.6) 20 Holotype. QMF51143 (Figs 2-4). Prolate ellipsoidal, (at right angles to dorso-ventral plane). Seed (4 unilocular, 2-valved fruit, partially dehisced into specimens); vertical axis 12-16 mm, lateral axis 2 subequal valves along ventral suture and dorsal hinge line; stalk scar indistinct, scar of style base 8-10 mm. orientedtransversetodorso-ventralplaneextending4-5 mmfromapextowardsbaseonmid faceofeachvalve. Derivation ofname. Withreferenceto the type Pericarp4-5mmthickinlateralregions,thinner(3mm) locality and in allusion to The Welcome' gold atapex. Seed solitary, apicallyattached, orthotropous. nugget, recovered during 1858, from a Deep Verticalaxis19mm;lateralaxes19mm,16mm. Lead at Bakery Hill near Ballarat, Victoria. Other material. QMF51144-QMF51151 inclusive, AMF11099. Remarks. The majority of specimens were Type locality. Herbertson WelcomeCreekDrain, N collected in an undehisced state (Figs 2-4), but of Bundaberg,Queensland; Early Miocene. on drying after collection, the valves ofseveral of them separated either partially or wholly Diagnosis. Fruit woody, prolate ellipsoidal, from the apex and along the ventral suture near symmetrical about the vertical axis; thereby to reveal their seed coats attached to indehiscent or tardily dehiscent, unilocular, the pericarp wall (Fig. 17). with 1 apically attached seed. Stalk attachment basal, inconspicuous; style base represented Distribution. Herberts on Welcome Creek by a linear groove oriented transverse to the Drain, N of Bundaberg; near Clifton, Darling mm dorso-ventral planeandextending4-5 from Downs; Picardv Station near Moranbah Hole apex on lateral surface of each valve; groove RDPD98MA21, 123-133 m, Qld; Forest Reef, underlain by vascular strands that extend into nearOrange, NSW. the pericarp and terminate near the seed cavity. Pericarp with near smooth outer surface, Agerange. EarlyOligocene-early LateMiocene. thickest (4-6 mm) in basal and mid regions of lateral surfaces, tapering to3-4 mm atapexand Species - Eureka turgida (F. Muell.) comb. nov. (Figs 25-30) alongboth ventral suture and dorsal hingeline; wall comprises thin exocarp overlying a thick 1874aConchothecaturgidaMueller,p.42;Pl.X,8,12(nonfigs vascularised mesocarp and a thin cuticle-like 5-7,9-11) endoearp. Inner mesocarp predominantly of Lectotype. NMVP53987; Mueller, 1874a,PI. X, fig. 8; vertically aligned vasculature surrounded by fFriugist,251-230mhmerelionn.g,On11e mvamlvewiofdegl(odboorsseivuennitlroaclullya)r, fibre sheaths in a ground mass ofparenchyma; stalk inserted into basal depression. Pericarp wall at or near inner/outer interface of mesocarp 2-3 mm thick; seedattached apically, with remnants the vascular bundles branch radially; outer of seed coat loosely adherent to pericarp in basal mesocarp composed of the radially directed halfoflocule. vascularbranchesandsurroundingfibresheaths. Type locality. Nintingbool, (Crucible Co.Shaft, -23.2 Preserved seedcoatcomprisesexotestaofa thin, m) near Haddon, SW of Ballarat, Victoria; basal structurelesscuticle,anendotestalcuticlebearing sediments of a sequence beneath basalt: Oligocene- Miocene. impressions of polygonal-shaped transfer cells (40-60 pm diameter) having internally directed Diagnosis. Fruit woody, indehiscent or tardily fimbriae, and a tegmic cuticle with impressions dehiscent, spheroidal, unilocular, with 1 seed. of anticlinal walls of rectilinear cells (55-70 pm Stalk 2-2.5 mm in diameter, inserted into basal long, 20-25 pm wide). depression 4-5 mm in diameter; style base 152 MemoirsoftheQueensland Museum Nature • 2010 • 55(1) | 1 Fossil Proteaceousfruits FnIoGvS1177,-3I0ntEeurrioerkasuwreflaccoemsenosfisopsep.nenodv.frauintdwEiutrhekparetsuergnitdead(Fs.eeMudel(la.r)rocwoemdb),,nQoMv.F;5117-12448,;Esucraelkeabwaerlc=o5memnmsi;ss1o8., 19 Internal and external surface,showingstylebase (arrowed),ofonevalveofopened fruitQMh5114/;scale, bplaoav'lrey=rgoo5fnmaslem-e;sdh2ca0o,paeCtduatstircvalineseofwfeerfducenulilncsdl,eeQraNnl&idg5hsUte5ead0nd;cossacctaaalntenibbnaasgree=loef1c0ste0reodpn,mm;QiMc2r3F,o5s21c4o,1p5Oe0us;t,seccruatllieacybleearrsoh=fo1ws0ei0endpgmci;omap2t1r,eass2s2v,iioIennwsneeodrt uisumltnnmladrul;esk2tr25(rs9-al),2ti6aeg3,dnh0t,dEbuSyasrenteMedikudgaesmlcctlaouaear(nrtgsn,ti)tidNinaasMgns(VuFde.ePl,rM5eoeuc3uemt9ltrn8leoa.rn7n);tamcsnisocdcomrafboilsn,seencbneeoaordprvel.c=s,ao2,yal.etec5ruc(smttaiorrmcterl;ysoeppwe2e)s,8c,h,tioNinDwvMteeetiVrlanPiyigol5rN3eoMsf9luVo8prPne7fg5ra;aic3tces9easc8raco7plefel;wlobsaps,alcerlQanlM-Nee2FMd.b5V5af1Prr1mu5i-5m3t09,1s;08h27sop7c;,wmai.Llseneceagblaeotrrtbayacprees1-a0ts0o 153 Memoirsofthe Queensland Museum Nature • 2010 • 55(1) 1 Dettmann & Clifford represented by an ellipsoidal groove, the Diagnosis.Fruitwoody,asymmetricallyprolate mm long axis 2-3 and oriented transverse to ellipsoidal, near-smooth externally, unilocular, the dorso-ventral plane on lateral surface of 1-seeded; indehiscent or tardily dehiscent, valves; groove underlain by vascular strands dehiscingfromtheapexalongthesinuous,ridged that extend into the pericarp and terminate ventralsuture. Stalkscarindistinctorvisible, 0.5- mm near the seed cavity. Pericarp with a near- 1.5 in diameter, inserted at base; style base mm smooth outer surface; wall 2.5-3 thick in indistinct, apical, underlain by vascular strands mid regionsoflateral surfaces, taperingto1.5-2 thatextend intothe pericarpand terminate near mm mm at base of style; composed of thin exocarp the seed cavity. Pericarp wall 2-2.5 thick overlying a thick vascularised mesocarp and a in mid regions of lateral surfaces, thickening to mm thin cuticle-like endocarp. Mesocarp a dense 2.5-3.5 at base of style; composed of thin groundmass of fibre sheaths that surround the exocarp overlying a thick radially vascularised vasculature and are predominantly aligned in a mesocarp and a thin cuticle-like endocarp. mm radial direction. Preserved seed coatcomprises Mesocarp 1.8-2.2 in thickness in mid exotesta of a thin, structureless cuticle, an regionsoflateralsurfaces,composed ofa dense endotestal cuticle bearing faint impressions of groundmass of fibre sheaths that surround the polygonal cells (40-50 urn in diameter) having vasculature and arranged predominantly in a occasional internally directed fimbriae, and a radial direction. Preserved seed coatcomprises tegmic cuticle with impressions of anticlinal exotesta of a thin, structureless cuticle, an walls of rectilinear cells (80-120 pm long, 20-25 endotestal cuticle bearing faint impressions of pm wide). polygonal cells (40-50 pm in diameter) having occasional internally directed fimbriae, and a Dimensions. Pericarp (2 specimens); vertical tegmic cuticle with impressions of anticlinal axis 11, 12 mm, dorsiventral axis 10, 11 mm. walls ofrectilinear cells (80-120 pm long, 20-25 pm wide). Comparison. E. turgida is smaller and the pericarpwallisthinnerthanthatof£.welcomensis. Dimensions. Pericarp (8 specimens); vertical Moreover, the latter species lacks a basal axis 10 (11.8) 14 mm; lateral axes 8 (9.8) 11 mm depression as occurs in E. turgida. (in plane of dehiscence) x 7.5 (8.4) 10.5 mm (at right angles to dorsal-ventral plane). Distribution and age. Known only from the type lbcality: Oligocene-Miocene. Derivation of name. Named in honour of Raymond Louis Specht, distinguished Species- Eureka spechtiisp. nov. (Figs 31-51) Australian ecologist. 1874aConchothecaturgidaMueller,p.42;Pl.X,5-7,9-11 (non figs8,12) Comparison. E. spechtii differs from E. turgida Holotype. (heredesignated) NMVP53958 (Mueller, in shape (prolate ellipsoidal vs. spheroidal), 1874a, PI. X , fig. 7), Figs 31-34 herein. Whole fruit, wall thickness (thickest vs thinnest in apical unilocular, ellipsoidal, vertical axis 13.5 mm, lateral regions) and the ventral suture line (sinuously axeseach 10.5 mm.Stalkscar3 mm. ridged vs. straight). Other material. NMVP52980, NMVP53096, NMVP53098, NMVP53960,QMF13208. Distribution. Nintingbool(Mueller,1874a,1874b); Typelocality.Nintingbool,(CrucibleCoShaft,-23.2m) Foster (Deane, 1925), Victoria; Brandy Creek nearHaddon,SW ofBallarat, Victoria; basal sediments (Johnston1880),Tasmania; Darling Downs (see ofa sequencebeneath basalt: Oligocene-Miocene. Johnston 1880, p.27), Queensland. 154 Memoirsofthe Queensland Museum Nature • 2010 • 55(1) | Fossil Proteaceousfruits Agerange. EarlyOligocene-early Late Miocene. Remarks and Comparison. The holotype and all butoneoftheotherspecimensexamined are Species - Eurekaharslettiaesp. nov. charcoalified and their internal morphological (Figs52-64) and anatomical features are preserved. The sole permineralised example studied is known 5H3o.lWohtoylpeefr(uhiet,reunidleoscuilganr,ateelldi)ps.oQidMaFl5,1ve1r5t3i,calFiagxsis5129- only from its external morphology. The species mm, lateral axes each 15.5 mm. Stigma scar 2.5 mm issimilarinsizeto E. welcomensis,but isdistinct wide at apex , taperingalong its length (7.5 mm) on in possessing a prominent ridge that encircles both lateral surfaces. the fruit along the ventral suture and dorsal Other material.QMF51154-QMF51157inclusive. hingeline. Moreover, theV-shaped grooveofthe Type locality. South Blackwater Coal Pty Ltd Hole stigma scaris longer than that in E. welcomensis. R8736, 82m,Queensland: Early-LateOligocene. Distribution. South Blackwater Coal Pty Diagnosis. Fruit woody, indehiscent or tardily Ltd Hole R8736, 82 m; Glencoe Station, near dehiscent, with a near-smooth surface; prolate Capella, Queensland. ellipsoidal to subspheroidal with a prominent mm Age range. Early-Late Oligocene. ridge (2-3 high) that encircles the stone in the longitudinal plane and situated along the ventral suture and dorsal hinge line; unilocular, AFFINITIESOF EUREKA 1-seeded. Stalk attachment basal, inconspicuous; style base represented by a V-shaped groove Pericarp vasculature of Eureka is consistent with thatoffruitsbornebyseveralgeneraofthe oriented perpendicular to the dorso-ventral plane and extending 7-9 mm from apex on Proteaceae included within tribe Macadamieae, and in particular by members of subtribes lateral surfaceofeach valve; groove widest (1.5- Macadamiinae, Gevuininae, and Virotiinae 2.5 mm) at apex; underlain by vascular strands (sensu Weston and Barker, 2006; Mast et al., thatextend into thepericarpand terminatenear mm 2008). The pericarps of genera included within theseed cavity. Pericarp wall 4-6 thick, but these subtribes possess a complexly branched thinning slightly around base of style; mostly vascular system surrounded by sclerenchyma composed ofvascularised mesocarpexternal to and/orfibresheathsand/orstonecellcomplexes. a thin, cuticle-like layer (?endocarp). Mesocarp mm The main vascular bundles are predominantly 3.S-5.8 in thickness, composed of a dense vgarsocuunldarmamsesshofafnibdrearsehepartehdsotmhiantasnutrlryoaulnidgntehde vreergtiiocnalolfytahleimgenesdo,caorcpc,urarnidngexwtietrhnialnttoheanmairdrdolwe zone of parenchyma and/or sclereids of the ina radial direction.Seedcoatcomprisesexotesta innermost mesocarp. The vertical bundles ofa thin unstructured cuticle, and an endotestal branch radially, the radial branches extending cceultliscl(e4b0e-a50ripngmfaiinntdiiammperteesrs)iohnasviofngposlpyagrosneally into the outer region of the mesocarp where they are sheathed by sclerenchyma; the tissues distributed, internally directed fimbriae. between themarecomposed offibres, stonecell Derivation of name. Named in honour of complexesand/or thin-walled (and sometimes MorwennaJean Harslett,Queensland naturalist. succulent) parenchyma. Thus, the middle region of the pericarp with its vertically aligned, Dimensions. Pericarp (12 specimens); vertical sheathed vasculature is densely structured axis 15 (16.7) 21 mm; lateral axes 13 (15.5) 21 and may be woody and endocarp-like, mm mm (in plane of dehiscence) x 8 (11.8) 15 whereas the outer region of the pericarp is (at right angles to dorsal-ventral plane). predominantly radially structured (Figs 65-68, MemoirsoftheQueensland Museum Nature • 2010 • 55(1) 155 | Dettmann & Clifford FIGS31-41. Eurekaspechtiisp.nov. 31-34, Holotypeinlateral (31,32),apical (33),and basal (34) viewsshowing dorsalsuture(ds)andstalkscar(s), \'MVP53598;scalebar=2.5mm;35-37,External (35)and internal (36,3/) viewsofpericarp showingstyle base (arrowed) and apically attached seed (arrow), NMVP53096; scale bar = 2.5 mm; 38-39, Seed illustrated in Fig. 37 before (38) and’after (39) treatment with sodium hypochlorite showing positions ofchalaza (ch) and micropyle (m), NMVP53096; scale bar = 1 mm; 40, Transfer cells of seedcoatofholotype, NMVP53598;scalebar=10pm. 156 Memoirsofthe Queensland Museum Nature • 2010 • 55(1) |