The first fossil Aristolochia (Aristolochiaceae, Piperales) leaves from Austria

Abstract

The first reliable leaf remains of Aristolochia from Late Miocene sediments in Austria are described as A. austriaca nov. spec. Comparative investigations with about 80 extant species of Aristolochia and with selected genera of other families support the generic identification. Fossil leaves from Europe, North America and China formerly identified as Aristolochia or Aristolochites were compared to the new fossils. None of these are similar to the new species from the Pellendorf site at the northwestern margin of the Vienna Basin. The sedimentary environment and the associated fossils indicate a habitat within or near wetland environments. A. austriaca is most similar to the extant A. rotunda and A. baetica and might point to a relationship to those Mediterranean species and their origin. © Palaeontological Association, May 2014.