The fossil record of Berberis (Berberidaceae) from the Palaeocene of NE China and interpretations of the evolution and phytogeography of the genus

Abstract

The occurrence of a Palaeocene Berberis in NE China and other fossil data suggest that 1) the genus originated in eastern Asia, 2) the leaf venation of the genus probably evolved from pinnate to acrodromous, leaf margins from densely spinose teeth to only occasionally toothed or even entire, 3) the genus would appear to have migrated from eastern Asia to North America in the Oligocene, via Beringia.

Keywords

• China
• eastern Asia
• Palaeocene
• Berberis
• leaf architecture
• phytogeography