Most of the fossils remain unidentified, but are probably semi-aquatic swamp plants.

• Abstract
• INTRODUCTION
• MATERIALS AND METHODS
• RESULTS
• CONCLUSION
• ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
• REFERENCES
• Figures
• Appendix

Biology Articles » Paleobiology » Paleobotany » Monocot macrofossils from the miocene of Southern New Zealand

Abstract

- Monocot macrofossils from the miocene of Southern New Zealand

Mike Pole

Queensland Herbarium, Toowong, Qld 4066, Australia

Abstract

Monocot cuticle is an uncommon component of dispersed cuticle samples in the New Zealand Miocene, a fact most likely due to its generally fragile nature. Nevertheless, 120 fossiliferous samples from two regions, the interior Manuherikia Basin in Central Otago, and the paleo-coastal delta of the Southland Coalfield, have produced 17 morphological types of cuticle, 15 of which are regarded as clearly monocot. These are described as parataxa and are regarded as including Astelia, Arecaceae, Rhipogonum, Pandanaceae, and Typha. Most of the fossils remain unidentified, but are probably semi-aquatic swamp plants. Six forms of fossil Typha seeds are also illustrated.

KEY WORDS: Early Miocene, cuticle, biodiversity, stomata, monocot

PE Article Number: 10.3.15A. Copyright: Society of Vertebrate Paleontology December 2007.