Paleopanax

Paleopanax oregonensis has been identified from a single location in the Clarno Formation, the Clarno nut beds, type locality for both the formation and the species. The nut beds are approximately east of the unincorporated community of Clarno, Oregon, and currently considered to be middle Eocene in age, based on averaging zircon fission track radiometric dating which yielded an age of 43.6 and 43.7 ± 10 million years ago and argon–argon dating radiometric dating which yielded a 36.38 ± 1.31 to 46.8 ± 3.36 Mya date. ==Description==

The fruits of Paleopanax oregonensis are bilaterally symmetrical with a wide elliptical shape in face view and bicarpellate structure. The fruits have an overall length ranging between and a width between . Each carpel is D-shaped in face view, with two to three arched longitudinal grooves which run across the carpel face and join at the ventral axis. The preserved pedicels are no more than long. The apex of the fruit sports two recurved styles which arise parallel to each other and are between long. Overall the fruit structure is very similar to those of the living Pseudopanax davidii. The two species are distinguished by the style structure, with Pseudopanax davidii having a single forked style, while Paleopanax oregonensis has two separate styles. ==References==