Mesofossil flora from the Late Cretaceous of New Zealand |
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Authors: | David J Cantrill Livia Wanntorp Andrew N Drinnan |
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Institution: | a Department of Palaeobotany, Swedish Museum of Natural History, Box 50007, SE-104 05 Stockholm, Swedenb National Herbarium of Victoria, Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne, Private Bag 2000, South Yarra, Victoria 3141, Australiac School of Botany, University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia |
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Abstract: | This study presents the first report of mesofossils of flowers, fruits and seeds found in the Cretaceous of New Zealand. The specimens were recovered from the Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian, ca. 70 Ma) at Kai Point Mine, South Island in a sequence of floodplain sediments sampled just below the Barclay Coal Seam. Angiosperm flowers, fruits and seeds occur in the sample. The most common form is an actinomorphic flower with two whorls of three tepals. Anther bases are preserved and the ovary develops into a drupe, all features that are consistent with placement in the Lauraceae. Reproductive structures including seeds of conifers are also described, with some allied to the Podocarpaceae. This contrasts with interpretations of the flora based on macrofossils that indicate abundant Araucariaceae and highlights the different perspectives that mesofossil floras give to any assemblage. The results of the present study support a Late Cretaceous flora at this site mainly dominated by conifers with affinities to Podocarpaceae but also including lauraceous angiosperms. |
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Keywords: | Angiosperm Charcoal Conifer Seed Late Cretaceous Flower New Zealand |
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