Yimaia

Yimaia
Temporal range:
Restoration of Yimaia recurva from the Jurassic of China
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Gymnospermae
Division: Ginkgophyta
Class: Ginkgoopsida
Order: Ginkgoales
Family: Yimaiaceae
Zhou, 1997
Genus: Yimaia
Zhou et Zhang, 1988
Species
  • Yimaia capituliformis Zhou, Zheng and Zhang, 2006
  • Yimaia qinghaiensis Wu, Yang and Zhou, 2006
  • Yimaia recurva (type) Zhou et Zhang, 1988

Yimaia is an extinct genus of Ginkgoalean tree, and the only member of the family Yimaiaceae. In botanical form classification, its a form taxon for ginkgoalean ovulate organs. Yimaia species are distinguished from other Ginkgoales by the presence of "Ovulate organs consisting of a peduncle and up to eight or nine terminal, sessile, contiguous and orthotropous (straight, upright and with a micropyle at apex) ovules." The ovules are associated with leaves of either Baiera or Ginkgoites leaf morphospecies. Fossils have been found in Middle Jurassic deposits in China.