Abundant foliage fossils of Ginkgoites ticoensis characterize the ancient plant communities of Cretaceous Patagonia. The species was recovered from the famous Ticó Flora of the Baqueró Group in southern Argentina. These fossil remains indicate a diverse understory of gymnosperms adapted to warm, humid environments.
This species is named after the Ticó locality, which is renowned for its exceptional preservation of Mesozoic plant fossils. Scientists analyze the carbonized cuticles of these leaves to gain insight into ancient atmospheric carbon dioxide levels. The species serves as an important biostratigraphic marker for the Aptian stage in South America.
The leaves of Ginkgoites ticoensis exhibit a characteristic wedge-like or semicircular profile with deeply incised lobes. The veins run parallel through the blade, bifurcating multiple times before reaching the outer margin. A thick waxy cuticle covers the epidermis, which possesses specialized stomatal structures.
Fossils of this plant are often found in association with extinct conifers and seed ferns, depicting a complex canopy structure. The cuticle preservation is so pristine that scientists can count individual stomata under scanning electron microscopes. This species provides key evidence for the high botanical diversity of Gondwana during the Early Cretaceous.
External Databases: GBIF
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