Preservation of cycad and Ginkgo pollen

Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology
By:

Links

Abstract

Pollen grains of Ginkgo, Cycas, and Encephalartos were chemically treated together with pollen of Quercus, Alnus, and Pinus, the latter three genera being used as standards. The experiments showed that: (1) boiling the pollen for 8-10 hours in 10% KOH had little if any effect on any of the grains; (2) lengthy acetolysis treatment produced some degradation or corrosion, particularly in Ginkgo and Cycas, but the grains of even these genera remained easily recognizable; (3) oxidation with KMnO4 followed by H2O2 showed that pollen of Ginkgo, Cycas, and Encephalartos remains better preserved than that of Quercus and Alnus, and although Ginkgo and Encephalartos probably are slightly less resistant to oxidation than Pinus, no great differences exists between these monosulcate types and Pinus. Thus the experiments show that, at least for sediments low in bacteria, cycad and Ginkgo pollen should be well represented in the fossil record as far as their preservational capabilities are concerned. ?? 1978.
Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Preservation of cycad and Ginkgo pollen
Series title Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology
DOI 10.1016/0034-6667(78)90036-2
Volume 25
Issue 2
Year Published 1978
Language English
Larger Work Type Article
Larger Work Subtype Journal Article
Larger Work Title Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology
First page 163
Last page 179
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
Additional publication details