Fruits of Icacinaceae from the Eocene Appian Way Locality of Vancouver Island, British Columbia

Twenty‐six permineralized icacinaceous fruits have been identified in the calcareous nodules from the Eocene Appian Way locality on Vancouver Island. Specimens of three fruit types were studied using the cellulose acetate peel technique and three‐dimensional computer‐animated reconstructions. Fruits are drupes with thin exocarp and mesocarp and a distinctly pitted endocarp with "tubercles." Endocarps are unilocular and bilaterally symmetrical, with straight‐walled (cylindrical) to conical protrusions into the locule cavity. The outer layer of the endocarp in all fruits is composed of thick‐walled interlocking digitate sclereids. The largest fruits are at least $$19.5\times 12.5$$ mm, with a ridged external endocarp surface and two distinct endocarp layers, the inner one of which is papillate. The smaller fruits are $$7.2\times 5.3$$ mm and have a smooth surface, a thinner three‐layered endocarp, and a papillate locule lining. Intermediate‐sized fruits, at least 9.8 mm long and 7.5–11.0 mm wide, are smooth externally, with a two‐layered endocarp, the inner one of which is papillate. These fruits are compared anatomically to Palaeophytocrene from the North American Clarno nut beds and European London Clay flora. The presence of papillate cells lining the locule cavity, an overlooked character, has been documented for fruits of Palaeophytocrene from all sites. The intermediate‐sized Appian Way fruits are most similar to Palaeophytocrene pseudopersica Scott emend. Manchester, while the other two fruit types differ from previously known taxa and are described as new species, Palaeophytocrene vancouverensis sp. nov. and Palaeophytocrene manchesteri sp. nov. The Appian Way fruits are assigned to Icacinaceae s.s. and are most like those of the Icacina group, the clade that contains Phytocrene, Pyrenacantha, Miquelia, Chlamydocarya, and Polycephalium.