Studies on Structures of Several Early Cretaceous Fossil Conifers in
The conifer fossils, Cephalotaxopsis haizhouensis Shang, Elatocladus cf. dunnii Miller et Lapasha and Elatides harrisii Chow, were collected from the Lower Cretaceous Fuxin Formation of the Fuxin Basin, Liaoning Province. Studies on the epidermal structures of these three species were carried out, and the epidermal structure characteristics of Cephalotaxopsis haizhouensis and Elatocladus cf. dunnii account for a warm and humid environmental condition. Based on the more complete cuticle and clearer stomatal bands structures, the analysis and comparison of epidermal structures between extant and fossil plants show that Cephalotaxus sinensis and Cephalotaxus fortunei can be the nearest living equivalent species to Cephalotaxopsis haizhouensis and Elatocladus cf. dunnii.