Late Palaeocene Cupressaceae Macrofossils at Lake Bungarby, New South Wales
Date
1999
Authors
Whang, S.
Hill, R.
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Journal article
Citation
Australian Systematic Botany, 1999; 12(2):241-254
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Abstract
<jats:p>
Four species of conifer macrofossils are described from the Late Palaeocene
Lake Bungarby sediments in southern New South Wales. Two are assigned to the
Cupressaceae and are considered to represent new species of
Libocedrus, L. acutifolius and
L. obtusifolius, although it is recognised that both
share some characters with Austrocedrus. Two other
fossils are considered to have less certain affinities with the Cupressaceae,
although both have cuticular micromorphology that contains synapomorphies for
that family. Both are assigned to new genera.
Bungarbia linifolius has entire, petiolate, univeined
leaves that resemble Metasequoia leaves, although the
cuticular morphology is very distinct from that genus. Unfortunately, the
phyllotaxis of Bungarbia is unknown.
Monarophyllum has leaves in apparently opposite pairs,
with the leaves bilaterally flattened. This combination of phyllotaxis and
leaf flattening is currently unknown in the Cupressaceae.</jats:p>