The Miocene conifer flora of Balcombe Bay, Victoria, Australia
Emma K. Lewis A and Andrew N. Drinnan A B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A School of Botany, The University of Melbourne, Vic. 3010, Australia.
B Corresponding author. Email: a.drinnan@unimelb.edu.au
Australian Systematic Botany 26(2) 145-155 https://doi.org/10.1071/SB11031
Submitted: 23 August 2011 Accepted: 22 February 2013 Published: 28 June 2013
Abstract
Fossil conifers from an early Miocene flora at Balcombe Bay near Melbourne, Australia, are described and illustrated. The most prominent elements are Araucaria balcombensis Selling emend. R.S.Hill and Dacrycarpus mucronatus P.M.Wells & R.S.Hill, and several other unidentified podocarp leaves are represented. Ovuliferous cones of D. mucronatus are described, along with isolated araucarian microsporophylls and podocarp pollen cones – both with pollen in situ. The floristic elements are similar to Eocene–Oligocene flora described from Tasmania, and indicate that these floras extended to now mainland Australia and persisted into the Miocene. They are indicative of a wetter and warmer climate than the present time.
Additional keywords: Araucariaceae, fossil, Podocarpaceae.
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