[en] The Belgian Wealden facies deposits (Barremian–Albian, 125.0–100.5 Ma) have delivered
hundreds of exceptionally well-preserved, yet isolated, pinaceous ovulate cones. A total
of 10 species has been described in Belgium, representing about 33% of the known
fossil cone species of this period worldwide. Research in the collections built up at the
end of the nineteenth century by C. Bommer has led to the rediscovery of unstudied
material. This has been complemented by recent excavations in the Wealden facies,
which provided new coniferous fossils. In a previous study, we showed that species
delimitation is inconsistent, with some species actually incorporating clearly distinct
populations that should be separated taxonomically. The use of morphometry as well
as micro-CT imaging of nineteenth century collections led to the description of new
morphotypes and the highlighting of new anatomical features such as scale dehiscence,
cone shape and scale form. In the long term, the objective is to propose new characters
to be included in the phylogeny of fossil Pinaceae. By using morphological descriptions
and quantitative protocols, we dust off the diversity and ecological importance of ovulate
cone species described in the twentieth century and shed a new light on the shape of their
Cretaceous radiation.
