First fruit fossil record of Morinda (Rubiaceae) from China

This study reports the first fruit fossil record of the genus Morinda from the Eocene. Morinda chinensis sp. nov. was found in the Eocene coal-bearing series in the Changchang Basin of Hainan Island, south China, and belongs to Sect. Roioc of Morinda according to the characters of its infructescence. This is the first fossil report of Morinda in a tropical area of China and it moves the fossil record of this genus from the Miocene back to the Eocene. The discovery of Morinda in the fossil record in south China provides important evidence for the geologic and phytogeographic history of the genus.

► Reports the first fruit fossil record of the genus Morinda in tropical China.
► Moves the fossil record of this genus from Miocene back to Eocene.
► Provides new evidence for the geologic and phytogeographic history of the genus.