Magnolia lignata

seed of Magnolia From an old collection.

The magnolia produces a fruit that is not a single fruit, but an aggregate of several individual follicles. A follicle is a type of nut that is opened by a single suture line to release the seed. In magnolias, these follicles clump together and form a structure that may resemble a pine cone or a cone. When the magnolia fruit ripens, the follicles open and reveal the seeds, which are usually bright red and attached to the follicle by a fine thread called a funiculus. The shape and size of the follicles can vary depending on the magnolia species, but their main function is to protect and release the seeds.

Magnolia It is a genus of plants belonging to the Magnoliaceae family, an ancient family that evolved before bees appeared, so the flowers developed so that they could be pollinated by beetles. They have hard carpels to prevent deterioration. Fossilized specimens of M. acuminata 20 million years old, and plants similar to the Magnoliaceae family dating back to 125 million years ago have been identified.

Currently, the Adendorf Mine contains predominantly light gray silty sands to clays over weathered Devonian rocks, the Tertiary thickness is approximately 46 m. In the lower half of the outcrop, two lignite horizons are distinguished, which can be traced along the entire outcrop. Additionally, there are numerous channel systems with pronounced erosion unconformities, as well as stratified and lenticular concentrations of plant remains, including seeds, fruits, leaves, and conifer cones. These deposits are interpreted as wash lines in the area of ​​meandering rivers. The rich macroflora of the Adendorf clay quarry was studied in particular by GOSSMANN (1989) and WINTERSCHEID (1990). The plants can be assigned to a species-rich mixed laurel forest, while on the sandbanks the pine and laurel forest elements formed much more species-poor stands.

Most of the finds come from accumulations interpreted as wash margins. Tree trunks up to several meters long are found here, as well as cones, fruits and seeds. Very common elements are Pinus sp. (Pinaceae = pine family), Trigonobalanopsis exacantha (Fagaceae = beech family), Tectocarya sp. y Mastixia sp. (both Mastixiaceae), Leucothoe narbonnensis (Ericaceae = heather family), Sphenotheca incurva y Symplocos sp. (both Symplocaceae). The flora of coarse clastic gullies, on the other hand, is much poorer in species and consists of larger remnants (cones of Pinus and Mastixiaceae). A flora poor in species was also recovered in the two lignite seams, where Carpolithus hafniensii is the most common. This species is frequently found in lignite seams or high-carbon sediments in the Rhineland and is considered typical of peat bog and swamp biotopes.

The box is included in the price