The succession of Australian pre-tertiary megafossil floras

The Botrychiopsis genus and its biostratigraphic implications in Southern Paraná Basin

“…3C and D) and later on to Botrychiopsis valida by Retallack (1980). Some other aspects also evidence the association of the specimen hereby analyzed to Botrychiopsis valida, largely by comparison with the material described and synonymized by Archangelsky and Arrondo (1971) as well as that identified by Rigby (1973), Anderson and Anderson (1985), Gould (1975), Retallack (1980) and Rayner (1995). Among these evidences, the presence of slightly imbricate, highly decurrent to decurrent pinnules with elliptical or elongated-elliptical outline and sub-lobate border insertions was observed.…”

“…However, these specimens can be correlated to another species, Botrychiopsis valida, taking into account the material described by Feistmantel (1880), Archangelsky and Arrondo (1971), Rigby (1973), Anderson and Anderson (1985) Gould (1975), Retallack (1980), Rayner (1995), Rigby (1985) and Archangelsky and Cúneo (1981).…”

“…However, Retallack (1980) considered the designation of Botrychiopsis valida, defended by Archangelsky and Arrondo (1971), as nomen vanum and sinonymized to Botrychiopsis ovata (Mc'Coy). Retallack (1980) also states that the specimen classified as Botrychiopsis plantiana by Gould (1975, Fig. 3C, D) should also correspond to the Botrychiopsis ovata species.…”

Ptilophyllum muelleri(Ettingsh.) comb. nov. from the Oligocene of Australia: Last of the Bennettitales?

“…Although they commonly have thick cuticles, sunken and papillae-protected stomata, and enrolled leaflet margins that are traditionally regarded as xeromorphic features, they are commonly preserved in coal-rich flood basin sediments, suggesting a preference for wetland habitats (Gould 1980;McLoughlin et al 2002). Pott et al (2008) proposed that such foliar characters were more likely adaptations to physiological drought (growth on strongly permeable, saline or low-pH soils, or exposure to persistent winds or wind-borne salts) rather than signaling a preference for truly dry conditions.…”

“…In Australia, bennettitalean fossils (leaves and reproductive structures) are diverse and abundant components of the flora from the Middle Triassic to the Early Cretaceous (Douglas 1969;Gould 1975;Anderson et al 1999;McLoughlin et al 2002;Holmes and Anderson 2008). Their diversity and abundance in Australia fell dramatically after the Hauterivian (mid-Early Cretaceous), concomitant with the diversification of angiosperms and the appearance of modern conifer genera .…”