Microvictoria

Microvictoria svitkoana is a fossil species of aquatic plant, which occurred in the Cretaceous period of New Jersey, USA.^[1]

Microvictoria Temporal range: 93.9–89.8 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N ↓ Turonian, late Cretaceous[1]
Scientific classification (disputed)
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Order:	Nymphaeales
Family:	Nymphaeaceae
Genus:	†Microvictoria Nixon, Gandolfo & Crepet[1]
Species:	†M. svitkoana
Binomial name
†Microvictoria svitkoana Nixon, Gandolfo & Crepet[1]

Description

Generative characteristics

The pedunculate, actinomorphic flowers are 2.3-3.4 mm long, and 1.2-1.6 mm wide. The peduncle is 0.4-1.8 mm long. Both staminoids and fertile stamens are present.^[1]

Taxonomy

Publication

It was published by Maria Alejandra Gandolfo, Kevin C. Nixon, and William L. Crepet in 2004.^[1]

Type specimen

The type specimen was collected in the Old Crossman Clay Pit, Sayreville, New Jersey, USA.^[1]

Position within Nymphaeales

It is placed in the family Nymphaeaceae.^[1] This placement has been questioned by different authors, who believe it may be placed outside of the order Nymphaeales.^[2][3] It has been proposed to include it in a newly described family Microvictoriaceae Doweld with a possible affinity to the order Illiciales.^[4]

Etymology

The generic name Microvictoria expresses an affinity to the extant genus Victoria. The specific epithet svitkoana honours Jennifer L. Svitko,^[1] a lab technician of the Cornell University.^[5][6]

Ecology

Pollination

It was pollinated by insects.^[7]