XVI International Botanical Congess

Common Mesozoic ferns are rare or absent in the Cainozoic and fern fossils are relatively rare in Cainozoic floras. This may be due to range restrictions and consequences of the rise to dominance of flowering plants. Relevant Cainozoic ferns (fertile foliage, anatomical preservation) are mainly recorded from mid-high palaeolatitudes of the northern hemisphere and from Australia. In spite of limitations fossils document at least minimal Cainozoic ranges for ferns including Osmundaceae, Schizaeaceae, Dicksoniaceae (Coniopteris), Gleicheniaceae (esp. in Australia), Cyatheaceae (Cnemedaria-type spores), Blechnaceae (Blechnum, Woodwardia), Dryopteridaceae (Onoclea), Pteridaceae (Acrostichum), Thelypteridaceae (Cyclosorus) and aquatic ferns. Extended latitudinal and geographic distributions characterise the early Cainozoic with range restriction in the late Cainozoic (following global cooling).