New Araucarian Conifer from the Late Cretaceous (Campanian-Maastrichtian) of Southeastern Turkey

A new fossil conifer Araucaria rothwellii J.Kvacek from the Campanian-Maastrichtian marine sediments of the Bozova Formation in southeastern Turkey is described based on leaf compressions and leaf impressions. The new species is characterized by twigs possessing helically arranged broadly lanceolate leaves with attenuate apexes and slightly narrowed bases. Amphistomatic leaves bear stomata arranged in rows surrounded by four to six subsidiary cells; the rows are longitudinal to the leaf margin. Ordinary epidermal cells are elongately rhomboidal with straight or slightly undulate anticlinal walls. Comparisons with already published fossil species and recent species are provided. The new fossil species A. rothwellii is similar in macro- and micromorphology to extant A. bidwillii, which is indigenous to Queensland in northeast Australia.