XVI International Botanical Congess

Pteridophytes are preserved in remarkable detail, and are unique within each of the outcropping zones of the Early Cretaceous in Victoria. Over thirty species are known, and after new collections and revision of previous work this is expanded to incorporate over 10 new species. Fern spores, which are present in the palynozones of south-eastern Australia define different zones by indicator spores, and vary with each zone. This study involves the determination of the association between fern macrofossils to the dispersed spore flora for each of the corresponding macrofloral and palynofloral zones. A substantial volume of data recording the palynology of the Australian Early Cretaceous exists, and is being utilised for the analysis of the distribution of pteridophyte groups during the Cretaceous.