Fossil imbricate-leaved Podocarpaceae from tertiary sediments in Tasmania

Abstract

Fifteen new species belonging to five genera (one, Mesibovia, newly described) of the Podocarpaceae with imbricate leaves are described from Oligocene-Early Miocene localities in Tasmania. Nine of these species belong to Dacrycarpus, which is now extinct in Australia, and their living affinities are widespread in latitude and altitude from New Zealand to New Guinea. Three species of Dacrydium s. str. demonstrate that this genus was diverse in Tasmania in the Tertiary, although it is now extinct in Australia. A species of Microstrobos, which is very similar to the extant alpinelsubalpine Tasmanian endemic M. niphophilus, occurs in both high-and low-altitude sites, and suggests that this type was once more widespread. The Oligocene Lagarostrobos marginuta is intermediate between the two extant species of Lagarostrobos, and suggests a closer relationship between them than do other lines of evidence. Mesibovia rhomboideu, recovered from three localities, shares features with several extant genera, and is of importance in understanding evolution within this group. The significance of the fossils for climatic and vegetation reconstruction is discussed.

Early Miocene flora of the Manuherikia Group, New Zealand. 10. Paleoecology and stratigraphy

“…This is similar to Australia (e.g. Bigwood and Hill, 1985;Wells and Hill, 1989;Hill and Carpenter, 1991;Hill and Pole, 1992;Pole, 1992e). The present distribution of conifers in circum-Tasman lands appears to be relictual.…”

Floral assemblage of the “D” coal seam (Cretaceous): Implications for banding characteristics in New Zealand coal seams

“…Quinn (Cookson 1953;Playford & Dettmann 1978). Macrofossil remains of L. franklinii have not been reported prior to the Pliocene-Pleistocene (Hill & Macphail 1985), though related material is known from Oligocene deposits (Wells & Hill 1989). It is therefore unlikely that P. mawsonii is taxonomically identical to L. franklinii, but the co-occurrence of unique pollen morphology would suggest strong botanical affinities.…”

Evolution of Acmopyle and Dacrycarpus (Podocarpaceae) foliage as inferred from macrofossils in south-eastern Australia

“…According to Greenwood this species bore long, loosely imbricate, bifacially flattened leaves as well as bilaterally flattened leaves. Wells and Hill (1989b) noted that, although Greenwood considered the leaves to be hypostomatic (stomates restricted to the abaxial leaf surface), his illustrations show them to be epistomatic (stomates restricted to the adaxial leaf surface). Several specimens of D. eocenica were supplied to us by Dr D. C. Christophel and examination has confirmed them as epistomatic.…”