Abstract
The identification and classification of isolated fossil leaves of the Taxodiaceae is generally difficult when the remains are not associated with reproductive organs. These problems are further exacerbated when more than one genus of the Taxodiaceae and/or genera of the Taxaceae or Cephalotaxaceae are preserved in the same deposits or the quality or mode of preservation precludes confident identification. To help facilitate the identification and separation of isolated taxodiaceous fossil leaves, the leaves of extant representatives of Cephalotaxus Siebold et Zuccarini ex Endlicher, Glyptostrobus Endlicher, Metasequoia Hu et Cheng, Sequoia Endlicher, Taxodium Richard, Taxus L., and Torreya Arnott were examined. The results of this investigation provided sufficient data about external morphological features to establish a system of classification for leaves that could be used to assist in the identification and classification of isolated fossil leaves.
