Torreya clarnensis facts for kids

Torreya clarnensis was an extinct type of conifer tree. It belonged to the yew family, called Taxaceae. We only know about this tree from fossils found in north central Oregon. These fossils are from the middle Eocene time period, about 45 to 43 million years ago. Scientists first learned about this tree from fossil seeds found in a type of rock called chert.

Discovering Torreya clarnensis

We found Torreya clarnensis fossils in only one special place. This place is called the Clarno nut beds. It's part of the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument in Oregon. This spot is important because it's where both the rock layers (Clarno Formation) and this specific tree species were first identified.

How Old Are the Fossils?

The Clarno nut beds are about 3 kilometers (2 miles) east of a small town called Clarno, Oregon. Scientists used special methods to figure out how old the fossils are. They used zircon fission track dating and argon-argon dating. These tests showed the fossils are from about 45 to 43 million years ago.

What Was the Environment Like?

The rocks where the fossils were found are made of sandstones, siltstones, and conglomerates. These rocks tell us about the ancient environment. It might have been a lake delta, where a river flowed into a lake. Or, it could have been an area with floods and volcanic mudflows, along with hot springs.

Who Found the Fossils?

Scientists described Torreya clarnensis from several important fossil samples. The main sample, called the holotype, is kept at the University of Florida. Two other important samples, called paratypes, are at the National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C..

Many people helped collect these fossils between 1942 and 1989. About 20,000 fossils were found! Some of the collectors included Thomas Bones, A. W. Hancock, R. A. Scott, Steven R. Manchester, and even many high school students.

Naming the Species

Paleobotanist Steven R. Manchester from the University of Florida studied the Torreya clarnensis fossils. He wrote the first scientific description of the species in 1994. It was published in a journal called Palaeontographica Americana. The name clarnensis was chosen to honor the Clarno Formation, where the fossils were found.

What Did Torreya clarnensis Look Like?

The seeds of Torreya clarnensis were shaped like a spindle, with pointed ends. They were symmetrical, meaning both sides were the same. The seeds were about 19.5 to 20.8 millimeters (0.77 to 0.82 inches) long. They were about 10.7 to 11.3 millimeters (0.42 to 0.44 inches) wide.

Seed Features

Scientists could tell these seeds belonged to a Torreya species by looking closely at them. The seeds had an overall oval shape when cut in half. The base was rounded, where a fleshy covering called an aril would have been attached. The tip of the seed had a ridge, like a keel on a boat. There were also two small scars from veins near the tip. The seeds had two small pores on their top and bottom surfaces, located about one-third of the way down from the tip.