Nelumbo jiayinensis sp. nov. from the Upper Cretaceous Yong'ancun Formation in Jiayin, Heilongjiang, Northeast China

Middle Miocene lotus (Nelumbonaceae, Nelumbo) from the Qaidam Basin, Northern Tibet Plateau

“…In China, lotus had a wide distribution and diverse species from the Cretaceous to the Miocene. To date, the fossil record of lotus extends from north to south, north to the Eocene Dalianhe Formation and the Upper Cretaceous Yong’ancun Formation in Heilongjiang Province [ 67 , 68 ], south to the Eocene Changchang Formation in Hainan Province [ 69 , 70 ], and east to the Miocene Fotan Group in Fujian Province [ 71 ]. However, there were a few reports in the western region of China, especially in the arid northwest.…”

“…The earliest geological records described as belonging to Nelumbo are N. lusitanica Saporta, and N. choffati Saporta from the Albian region of Portugal, and the leaf of N. weymouthi Brown reported from the Aspen Shale of southwestern Wyoming, USA [ 64 , 82 , 83 ]. Since then, more than 30 fossil species have been reported, of which 18 species are known from the Cretaceous of Europe, Asia, North America, South America and Africa, with the rest recorded from the Paleogene and the Neogene of Asia, Europe, and North America [ 51 , 68 ]. Most species were established based on a single specimen or just a mere fragment during the 20th century [ 68 , 70 , 71 , 79 ], such as N. lacunosa , N. megalopolitana and N. minima erected for fossil receptacles [ 51 ].…”

“…Since then, more than 30 fossil species have been reported, of which 18 species are known from the Cretaceous of Europe, Asia, North America, South America and Africa, with the rest recorded from the Paleogene and the Neogene of Asia, Europe, and North America [ 51 , 68 ]. Most species were established based on a single specimen or just a mere fragment during the 20th century [ 68 , 70 , 71 , 79 ], such as N. lacunosa , N. megalopolitana and N. minima erected for fossil receptacles [ 51 ]. Due to the lack of detailed descriptions and comparisons of some fossils, a more thorough investigation is required to clarify the taxonomic position of these fossils.…”

“…Nelumbo jiayinensis was described from the Upper Cretaceous Yong’ancun Formation, Heilongjiang, Northeast China, the earliest known age and the most northern occurrence of this genus in China. N. jiayinensis differs from our specimens in the size of areoles and the mode of areole formation and lacks bifurcating primary venation [ 68 ]. Nelumbo changchangensis was erected by He et al [ 70 ] with a comprehensive record from the Eocene Changchang Formation, Changchang Basin, Hainan Island, China, including rhizomes, tubers, leaves, receptacles and fruits.…”