title: The fossil record of Eucalyptus in Patagonia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Herein, we name, describe, and illustrate new macrofossil material representing Eucalyptus (Myrtaceae: Myrtoideae, Eucalypteae) from the diverse early Eocene Laguna del Hunco (LH) flora of Chubut Province, Patagonia, Argentina. We explore the significance of these fossils in light of understanding the fossil record of eucalypts and the biogeography of the Eucalypteae.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fossils representing vegetative and reproductive organs were collected from multiple LH localities over several field seasons. These specimens were prepared, photographed, and compared to extant Eucalyptus. Additional historical collections of Patagonian fossil Eucalyptus were also examined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Vegetative and reproductive organs representing five different Eucalyptus taxa were identified in the LH paleoflora. One new taxon each representing leaves, flower buds, and infructescences with co-occurring, isolated capsules are described and named as new Eucalyptus species. Additionally, two flower types cf. Eucalyptus, represented by one specimen each, are illustrated and briefly described. The fossil species have unique characteristics that independently suggest each belongs within the Eucalypteae. The reproductive material is most similar morphologically to extant Eucalyptus, although it also shares many similarities to the closely related genus Corymbia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The LH fossil Eucalyptus material is among the few eucalypt macrofossils that have recently been named and described and are the oldest macrofossils that can presently be definitively ascribed to the Eucalypteae. They also represent the only credible description of Eucalyptus fossils occurring outside of Australasia and suggest a once broader geographic distribution for this group.
authors.affiliation: L. H. Bailey Hortorium, Department of Plant Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA. ejh23@cornell.edu
authors.forename: Elizabeth J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Hermsen
authors.forename: María A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Gandolfo
authors.forename: María del Carmen
authors.initials: Mdel C
authors.lastname: Zamaloa
mesh_terms: D001118:Argentina; D005052:Eucalyptus / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000145:classification; D035264:Flowers / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000145:classification; D005580:Fossils; D005843:Geography; D010802:Phylogeny; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000145:classification