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(American Journal of Botany. 2006;93:1848-1851.)
© 2006 Botanical Society of America, Inc.

Brief Communication

Utility of high resolution x-ray computed tomography (HRXCT) for paleobotanical studies: an example using London Clay fruits and seeds1

Melanie L. DeVore6, Paul Kenrick, Kathleen B. Pigg and Richard A. Ketcham

Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Georgia College & State University, Milledgeville, Georgia 31062-0001 USA; 3Department of Palaeontology, The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD, UK; 4School of Life Sciences Faculty & Administration, Arizona State University, Box 85287-4501, Tempe, Arizona 85287-4501 USA; and 5University of Texas X-ray High-Resolution CT Facility (UTCT), Department of Geological Sciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712-1100 USA

ABSTRACT

High resolution x-ray computed tomography (HRXCT) was used to image pyritized fossil fruits from the Lower Eocene London Clay flora to test the utility of this technique for paleobotanical application. The combination of carbon-pyrite preservation and void spaces between fruit and seed layers within fossils provides differences in density and composition that enable excellent imaging. Fossil fruits of Palaeorhodomyrtus subangulata (Bowerbank) Reid & Chandler (Myrtaceae) were investigated in situ within their silicone fluid conservation medium, which protects these unstable fossils from oxygen and humidity. HRXCT recovers taxonomically informative anatomical and morphological detail and provides a means of nondestructive examination of delicate type materials and other important specimens. These results suggest that HRXCT will be applicable to a broad spectrum of pyritized fossils to record structural details in inherently unstable materials.

Key Words: fossil fruits and seeds • high resolution x-ray computed tomography (HRXCT) • London Clay • paleobotanical techniques • pyrite permineralization






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