Eocene vegetation from hasties, north-eastern Tasmania

Abstract

The Mid–Late Eocene macrofloral assemblage from Hasties, north-eastern Tasmania is characterised by a large diversity of conifers. Fourteen species are identified including two species of Araucaria (A. hastiensis Hill & Bigwood and A. annulata Bigwood & Hill) and 12 species of Podocarpaceae: Acmopyle compactus sp. nov.; Lepidothamnus diemenensis sp. nov.; two species of Dacrycarpus (D. geminus sp, nov. and D. mucronatus Wells & Hill); Phyllocladus aspleniifolius Hook; Podocarpus sinuatus sp. nov.; two species of Prumnopitys (P. portensis sp. nov. and P. cf. P. montana), Smithtonia jonesii Hill & Pole; and three species of uncertain genus.

Seven taxa of angiosperm macrofossils (dispersed cuticles and leaves) are identified: two species of Luurophyllum (Lauraceae); Luurophyllum cuspidatus sp. nov. and L. cf. L. arcuatum Hill; Nothofagus tasmanica (Fagaceae); Gymnostoma sp. (Casuarinaceae); Cenarrhenes nitida (Proteaceae), cf. Xanthomyrtus sp. (Myrtaceae); and a taxon of possible Cunoniaceae affinity.

The vegetation, which was dominated by Lepidothamnus diemenensis, grew in a floodbasin swamp. The climate was cool, seasonal, with high rainfall and cloud cover.

This paper is an important 'whole flora' taxonomic treatment of a macrofossil assemblage. It notes the first occurrence in Australia of the conifer Lepidothamus (currently restricted to New Zealand and South America).