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Triassic plant fossils from Pollock Road,

Southland, New Zealand
a b
MIKE S. POLE & J. I. RAINE
a
Department of Plant Science, University of Tasmania, G. P. O. Box
252C, Hobart, 7001, Australia
b
Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences Ltd, P. O. Box 30 368,
Lower Hutt, New Zealand

Available online: 23 Sep 2010

To cite this article: MIKE S. POLE & J. I. RAINE (1994): Triassic plant fossils from Pollock Road,
Southland, New Zealand, Alcheringa: An Australasian Journal of Palaeontology, 18:1-2, 147-159

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 Triassic plant fossils from Pollock Road, South-
land, New Zealand
MIKE S. POLE AND 1. I. RAINE

POLE. M. S.. & RAINE. J. I.. 1994:03:28. Triassic plant fossils from Pollock Road. Southland.
New Zealand. Alcheringa 18. 147-159. ISSN 0311-5518.
Sedimentary rocks of the Murihiku Supergroup considered to be latest Triassic (Rhaetian).
crop out about 10 m below the Glenham Porphyry. near Glenham. New Zealand. They contain
the vegetative macrofossils Marchantites sp. (Hepaticae). Pachydermophyllum praecordillerae
(Frenguelli) Retallack and Pachydermophyllum benmorensis Anderson & Anderson (Pelta-
spermaceae), d. Dicroidium dubium var. dubium Anderson & Anderson (Corystospermaceae),
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Desmiophyllum sp. d. D. indicum Sahni (possible conifer), and Gingkophytopsis sp. (possible
progymnosperm) .
Reproductive material includes ovulate structures (Peltaspermum cournanei sp. nov.), pollen-
bearing structures (AntevsUi sp.) and probably seeds of the Peltaspermaceae, ? Umkomasia
(Corystospermaceae), and a possible progymnosperm rnicrosporophyll.
The palynoflora is dominated by bisaccate gymnospermous pollen. mainly Alisporites spp..
consistent with the presence of corystosperm macrofossils. Moderately common pollen of
Cycadopites spp. may be of peltasperm origin.
Mike S. Pole, Department of Plant Science, University of Tasmania, G. P. O. Box 252C, Hoban
7001, Australia; J. 1. Raine, Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences Ltd, P. 0. Box 30 368,
Lower Hutt, New Zealand; received 26 February 1993.
Keywords: Triassic. New Zealand. palaeobotany. palynology. Peltaspermaceae , Corysto-
spermaceae, Gymnosperm.

SEDIMENTARY rocks of the Murihiku Super-
group, 300 m south of Pollock road, near
Glenham, New Zealand (Fig. 1), contain abun-
dant plant macrofossils. The fossils were dis-
covered by S. M. Cournane during work on a
third year project for the Department of Geol-
ogy, University of Otago in 1986. The locality
was subsequently visited by S. M. Cournane, D.
S. Coombs and M. S. Pole and a range of fossil
material collected including Antevsia sp. These
later specimens were examined by H. M. An-
derson and W. B. K. Holmes, who urged further
collection. Pole recollected the locality in De-
cember 1988 without finding any further mate-
rial of Antevsia sp. but recovered several
palmately-lobed structures.
031115518/94/010147-13 $3.00 ©AAP
Regional mapping by Wood (1966) placed the
horizon in the Ururoan (early Jurassic), but less
than a kilometre from Otapirian (Rhaetian, lat-
est Triassic) sediments. The fossils occur ap-
proximately 10 m stratigraphically below a
contact with the Glenham Porphyry (S. M.
Cournane, pers. comm., 1987). This is an
either shallow intrusive or extrusive igneous
body belonging to the Triassic-Jurassic Park
Volcanics Group (Coombs et al., 1992); its
mode of emplacement at Pollock Road is not
clear. Identification of age-diagnostic plant fos-
sils would provide a maximum constraint on the
age of emplacement of the Porphyry.
The Pollock Road localities were not known
to Retallack, who revised the Triassic flora of
New Zealand (Retallack, 1980, 1981, 1983,
1985). These fossils are important for under-
standing the development of New Zealand's
flora, and the reproductive structures may have
international significance with respect to plant
evolution.
 148 M. S. POLE & J. I. RAINE ALCHERINGA

INVERCARGILL Localities
Glenham F46/f067
• F46/f068
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1 km

Fig. 1. Locality map.

Material and localities Marchantites sp. (Figs 2F, 3)

Fossils are housed in the collection of the De- Referred specimens. Locality F46/f067:
partment of Geology, University of Otago, OU17619.
Dunedin. Fossil localities are referred to by the
registered N. Z. Fossil Record File numbers, Remarks. A multiply branching form, consis-
based on the metric N. Z. M. S. 260 sheets. tent with being a liverwort is often abundant on
Macrofossils were collected from two hori- bedding surfaces.
zons, F46/f067, a cross bedded sandstone, and
F46/f068, a finely laminated clay. Useful cuti-
cle does not appear to be present, especially in Order PELTASPERMALES
the sandstone, where organic material has been
almost entirely leached away. Two pollen sam- Family PELTASPERMACEAE
ples, F46/f069 and F46/f070, were collected
from very carbonaceous horizons. Macrofossil
determinations are the responsibility of M. S. Pachydermophyllum Thomas & Bose 1955
Pole and the palynology of 1. 1. Raine.
Pachydermophyllum praecordiUerae
Systematics (Frenguelli) Retallack (Figs 2B-D)

Vegetative material Referred specimens. Locality F46/f067:

OU17651, OU17653, OU17664-0U17666,
OU17670, OU17672-0U17674, OU17678,
Order MARCHANTIALES OU17682-0U17686, OU17691-0U17693,
OU17696, OU17697, OU17708. Locality
F46/f068: OU17606, OU17610, OU17611,
Marchantites Brongniart 1849 OU17707,0U17708.
 ALCHERINGA NEW ZEALAND TRIASSIC PLANTS 149
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A B c

D E
Fig. 2. A. Pachydermophyllum benmorensis Anderson & Anderson, OU30548. B-D. Pachydermophyllum praecordillerae
(Frenguelli) Retallack. B,OU17678. C.OU17651. D.OU17697. E. Corystospermaceae gen. et sp. indet.• OU17648.
F. Marchantites sp.. OU17619. Scale in em.

Description. Fronds simply pinnate, at least 80 maximum, rachis 2 mm wide at base. Pinnae
mm long, elliptical, pinnae decreasing steadily up to 32 mm long and 9 mm wide, shape
in length towards apex and base from central variable, some tapering to acute apex, or paral-
 150 M. S. POLE & J. I. RAINE ALCHERINGA
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Fig. J. Marchantiies sp.. OU1757. Scale = 1 em.

leI sided with rounded apex, margin entire, base Referred specimens. Locality F46/f067:
usually continuous with bases of adjacent pin- OU30548.
nae, base decurrent in most specimens, midrib
continuing to pinna apex, decurrent on rachis, Remarks. P. benmorensis is similar to
lateral veins not preserved on most specimens P. praecordillerae but differs in having crenate
but appear either simply or dichotomising only pinna margins.
once.
Order CORYSTOSPERMALES
Discussion. Specimens are placed in this genus Family CORYSTOSPERMACEAE
primarily on the basis of comparison with the
material illustrated by Retallack (I983). An
important feature of this genus according to the cf. Dicroidium dubium var. dubium (Fig.
original diagnosis by Thomas & Bose (I955) 2E)
seems to be the insertion of the pinnae .above
the middle line of the rachis but leaving part Referred specimen. Locality F46/f067:
exposed above'. The pinnae insertion of the OUI7648.
Pollock Road material is not clear. The rachis
Remarks. Portion of a frond, 40 mm long,
docs seem to be tripartite, but the lateral flanges
midrib divided, pinnules small and appressed.
in most cases look more like decurrent contin- Detail is lacking, but general morphology sug-
uations of the pinnae midribs. gests this is probably Dicroidium tsensu Ander-
son & Anderson, 1983). G.1. Retallack (pers,
comm., 1993) suggested this is a fragment of a
Pachydermophyllum benmorensis Anderson bipinnate frond, comparable to Dicroidium dub-
& Anderson (Fig. 2A) ium var. dubium,
 ALCHERINGA NEW ZEALAND TRIASSIC PLANTS 151

two primary veins at base dichotomising

throughout length of lamina to maximum of 3-8
veins at maximum lamina width, converging
slightly towards apex and may anastomose in
some specimens. Two or three thinner veins,
or resin canals, run between each pair of pri-
maries.

Discussion. Retallack (1985, p. 6) illustrates a

portion of a similar leaf from the middle to late
Anisian (mid-Triassic) from F45/f9560, near
Gore, as Desmiophyllum sp. cf. D. indicum
Sahni,
While the genus Desmiophyllum only applies
to isolated leaves, Anderson & Anderson (1985,
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p. 146, pI. 162) illustrate very similar leaves

from the Permian of South Africa. Several
specimens indicated these leaves were spirally

D
f1J E
placed around a central axis, allowing the form
genus Podozamites to be applied. They re-
garded their fossil, Podozamites hlobanensis, as
a conifer.

Plantae incertae sedis

Fig. 4. A, Gingkophytopsis sp. OU17616. B-E.
Desmiophyllum sp. cf. D. indicum Sahni. B, OU1764O. C.
OU17647. D, OU17625. E.OU17642. Finer lines in Gingkophytopsis (Hoeg) emend. Retallack
between main veins are possibly resin canals. Scale = 1
em. 1980

Gingkophytopsis sp. (Figs 4A, 6C)

Referred specimens. Locality F46/f067:

Incertae sedis OU17618. Locality F46/f068: OU17601,
OU17607,OU17613-0U17618.
Desmiophyllum Lesquereux emend. Solms-
Description. Leaves cuneate, length 18-29
Laubach 1904
mm, width 14-18 mm, lateral margins entire,
apical margin entire or slightly irregular, base
Desmiophyllum sp. cf. D. indicum Sahni decurrent, apetiolate. Primary venation
(Figs 4B-E, 6C) dichotomising and anastomosing throughout,
evenly radiating from base to apex from one or
Referred specimens. Locality F46/f067: two veins at base up to 66 along apical margin.
0

OU17622, OU17624-0U17626, OU17629, Three or four thinner veins, or resin canals,

OU17631, OU17632, OU17635-0U17638, present between primaries.
OU17640-0U17642, OU17646, OU17647,
OU17659, OU17675, OU17676, OU17679. Reproductive material
Locality F46/f068: OU17602, OU17604,
0U17605, OU17612, 0U17705, OU17706. Class PTERIDOSPERMOPSIDA

Description. Leaves lanceolate, length 6,0- Order PELTASPERMALES

23·5 mm, width 2,5-7,0 mm, apex rounded, or Family PELTASPERMACEAE
emarginate, base decurrent, apetiolate, margins
entire. Venation parallel, evenly spaced, one or Pollen-bearing organs
 152 M. S. POLE & 1. I. RAINE
Antevsia Harris 1937
Antevsia sp. (Figs SA, 70)
Referred specimens. Locality F46/f067:
OU17709.
Description. Branching axis, 60 mm long,
approximately 2·0 mm in diameter at the base,
branching in more than one plane, spacing of
branches may be regular, 2 or more branches
departing at nodes approximately 10 mm apart,
at least 6 branches are present, branches 1'1-
1·3 mm in diameter. Attached terminally to the
branches are 4-6, smooth, sac-like structures
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7-8 mm long and 2-5 mm wide, truncate at the
proximal end and tapering to a point at their
distal end, elliptical in cross-section. These
structures project back along their branch and
are therefore somewhat radial to the main axis.
Interpretation. This structure is interpreted as
Antevsia Harris, emend. Townrow, the micro-
sporophyll of the Peltaspennaceae, albeit with
remarkably large pollen sacs.
Ovulate organs
Peltaspermum Harris 1937
Peltaspermum cournanei sp. nov. (Figs 5B-
G,6A-G)
1983 Peltaspermum sp. indet.; Retallack. p. 141. figs 6H.
ior,
Holotype. OU30557
Type locality. F46/f067
Referred specimens. OU17671, OU30539-
OU30546, OU30549-0U30552, OU30554-
OU30558, OU30731-0U30734.
Diagnosis. A Peltaspennum in which the ovu-
lar head is composed of an even number (four
Fig. 5. Reproductive structures. A. Antevsia sp.. OU17709. three-dimensional sketch based on part and counterpart.
Cross-hatching indicates a section through a lobe. B-G. Peltaspermum cournanei sp. nov. B.OU30371. C.OU30733. D.
OU30544. E.OU30734. F. OU30557 (holotype), G.OU30732. H.? Umkomasia , OU1n68. I-M. seeds. I.OU30735.
J. OU30736. K. OU30737. L. OU30738. M. OU30739. Scale in em.
ALCHERlNGA
or six) distinct lobes, with probably one seed
per lobe.
Etymology. Named for Steven M. Coumane,
who discovered the locality.
Description. Palmate aggregates, 13-15 mm
across, of four or six lobes. Each lobe is oval
in outline,S mm x 3·5 mm, attached to a plate.
Some aggregates have lobes, hemispherical in
section (Fig. 6C, F), others more flattened but
with pronounced longitudinal grooves on sur-
face (Fig. 6A, G).
Interpretation. Comparable structures from the
Triassic of Gondwanaland are the ?
Williamsonia sp. flowers illustrated by Walkom
(1932, pl. 5, figs 3-5) and re-illustrated by
White (1986, p. 149, figs 222,223) as Dicroid-
ium 'flowers' and also the structures which
Holmes & Ash (1979) interpreted as the ex-
panded empty cupules of Karibacarpon Lacey,
a genus later submerged by Holmes (1987)
within Umkomasia. These are palmate aggre-
gates of six lobes. Retallack (1977) noted spec-
imens which 'clearly show five or six, pointed
lobes' . Examination of his illustration shows
the structures having four, six, or eight lobes.
This even number of lobes is also a feature of
the Pollock Road material and appears to be
more than coincidental.
There appear to be two interpretations of the
'Dicroidium flower' - Karibacarpon structures;
1. Retallack (1977) recollected Walkom's local-
ity in New South Wales and found these cupules
attached to axes and associated with Dicroidium
zuberi foliage and Umkomasia sp. He interpre-
ted the structures as being dehisced Umkomasia.
cupules. This interpretation was followed by
Holmes & Ash (1979).
2. White (1986) reconstructs these structures as
groups of cupules, with an ovule under each,
deriving them evolutionarily from the similarly
multi-ovuled reproductive organ of Lidgettonia,
a glossopteridalean, which by reduction,
 ALCHERlNGA NEW ZEALAND TRIASSIC PLANTS 153
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B c

D E

H
F G

I J K L M
 154 M. S. POLE & 1. I. RAINE ALCHERINGA
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Fig. 6. Reproductive structures and leaves. A. B. ? Umkomasia, OU17668. part and counterpart. C. bedding surface with
Desmiophyllum sp. cf. D. indicum Sahni (OU17635. OU13636. OU17638. OU17642) and Gingkophytopsis sp. (OU17639).
D. above. the large pollen sacs of Antevsia sp.• (OU17709); below. the elongate structure (OU30750) which is possibly a
progyrnnospenn microsporangiurn. Scale = 1 em.

evolved into the more usual single-seeded cu-
pules of Umkomasia.
The former interpretation derives the palmate
shape from dehiscence of a single-ovuled struc-
ture, while the later involves a multi-ovulate
structure with a shape not determined by dehis-
cence.
There is no indication that the lobes of the
Pollock Road specimens are a result of dehis-
cence, and no evidence of compound structure
 ALCHERINGA
expected. of coniferalean bract-scale/ovulifer-
eous-scale complexes. The lobes appear to
have been individual sub-units which each car-
ried an ovule beneath or within it (the seeds
shown in Fig. SI-M may have been produced in
such cupules), The hemispherical and flattened
forms may represent upper and lower views of
the same structure, or perhaps the two halves of
a dehisced complex. A. Drinnan (pers, comm.,
1992) suggested that the ridges running along
some of the lobes (Figs SB- F, 6B-G) are stalks,
and that the lobes are ovules recurved beneath
them. It would not be desirable to place these
organs into Umkomasia, as this genus is pres-
ently restricted to single-seeded cupules. Fur-
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thermore, while Umkomasia has been related to
Dicroidium foliage (Corystospermaceae), on
grounds of association, the lobed structures
from Pollock Road may have been borne on
Pachydermophyllum foliage (Peltaspermaceae).
The fossils are interpreted as being an ex-
treme form of peltasperm ovulate fructification.
The multiovulate structure of Peltaspermum
thomasi Harris (see Retallack & Dilcher, 1988,
fig. 9) forms a basis for comparison. The
Pollock Road specimens could be derived from
P. thomasi by an approximate doubling of di-
mensions, mostly involving extension of the
lobes of the ovular head.
Seeds (Figs SI-M, 6H)
Referred specimens. Locality F 46/ f067:
OU3073S-0U30739.
Description. Tear-drop or wedge-shaped ob-
jects, S mm long, 3-4 mm wide, slightly in-
dented at the broad end, curved at the pointed
end.
Order CORYSTOSPERMALES
Family CORYSTOSPERMACEAE
? Umkomasia Thomas emend. Holmes (Figs
5H, 7A, B)
Referred specimen. Locality F46/f067:
0U17668.
Description. Axis 43 mm long, approximately
1,7-2,0 mm in diameter, bearing laterally, glob-
NEW ZEALAND TRIASSIC PLANTS 15S
ular, ovulate forms 4·S-S·0 mm long and 2·7-
4·0 mm wide, attached by a short stalk. Mid-
way along the axis is a flattened, shield-like
structure, held tangentially to the main axis and
in the plane of exposure. It may be formed of
4 radially oriented subunits, elliptical in outline
and fused. A depression is present at the centre
of the 'shield' directly opposite the assumed
point of axis attachment. At the tip of the axis
may be two more of these flattened structures,
held perpendicular to the plane of exposure
(although one of these has been damaged since
the specimen was drawn), or they may be an-
other pair of ovulate structures. Preservation is
poor.
Interpretation. The pairs of ovules are consis-
tent with the structure being an Umkomasia
Thomas emend. Holmes. The shield-shaped
structure may be in fortuitous association but is
comparable with a specimen which Pole has
observed, described by Retallack (1983, p. 141,
figs 6H, 101) as Peltaspermum sp. indet.
(Peltaspermaceae). G. J. Retallack (pers.
cornm., 1993) suggests a similarity with Um-
komasia granulata in the sense of Retallack &
DiIcher (1988).
? Progymnosperm microsporophyll (Figs 6D,
8)
Referred specimen. Locality F46/f067:
OU30750.
Description. Structure 68 mm long, 7 mm
wide, consisting of many sack-like subunits
approximately 2 mm in diameter, attached along
a central O· S mm diameter axis. The specimen
is very poorly preserved.
Interpretation. G. 1. Retallack (pers. comm.,
1993) suggests this may be a cone-like structure
of helically arranged spore-pollen sacs, possibly
with progymnosperm affinities.
Reconstruction of Peltaspermum
cournanei plant
It is proposed here that the foliage
Pachydermophyllum praecordillerae, the pol-
len-bearing structure Antevsia sp., the ovulate
structure Peltaspermum cournanei, together
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156 M. S. POLE & 1. 1. RAINE

ALCHERINGA
 ALCHERlNGA
Fig. 8. Possibleprogymnospenn microsporophyllOU30750. Scale in em.
with the seeds described above, were all asso-
ciated on the living plant. Retallack (1983)
already noted that specimens he described as
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Peltaspermum sp. 'are found whenever
Pachydermophyllum is abundant' (in New Zea-
land). These included P. praecordillerae. Fol-
lowing Anderson & Anderson (1985) and
Retallack & Dilcher (1988) the reconstructed
plant takes the name of the ovular fructifica-
tions. The P. coumanei plant was probably a
shrub, similar to the P. thomasii plant recon-
structed by Retallack & Dilcher (1988), how-
ever, the former has simply pinnate leaves while
the latter has bipinnatifid to pinnatifid leaves.
Macrofossil evidence for age
Gingkophytopsis ranges from the Late Carbon-
iferous to the end of the Triassic (Retallack
1980) and has been recovered from Anisian to
Rhaetian localities in New Zealand (Retallack,
1980,1981,1983,1985). Pachydermophyllum
ranges from the earliest Triassic, or possibly
latest Permian, to the Middle Jurassic
(Retallack, 1981). P. praecordillerae has a
Middle to Late Triassic range, possibly extend-
ing also into the Early Triassic (Retallack,
1981). The macrofloral evidence indicates a
Triassic age for the Pollock road plant beds.
Regional stratigraphic considerations would
suggest a latest Triassic (Rhaetian) age.
Palynology
Fig. 7. A-G. Peltaspermum cournanei sp. nov. A. OU30557 (holotype). B. OU307JJ. C. OUJ0544. D. OUJOJ71. E.
OUJ0734. F. OU307J2. G. OUJ0549. H. group of seeds includingOUJ07J9 and OU307J8. Scale = I em.
NEW ZEALAND TRIASSIC PLANTS 157
Sample F46/f70, collected from the same small
cutting on the north side of a gully 300 m south
of Pollock Road as the plant macrofossil locality
F461f68, and 40 em stratigraphically higher,
yielded mainly woody and cuticular detritus but
only rare, degraded miospores (laboratory num-
ber L12977). F461f69, from slightly weathered
carbonaceous mudstone at the same locality and
3 em stratigraphically below F46/f68, yielded
abundant, yellow, more or less oxidised
miospores, though preservation is only fair (lab-
oratory number L12976), probably because of
recent weathering. Moderately degraded cutic-
ular material comprises the remainder of insol-
uble organic matter; fungal spores are rare and
palynomorphs of marine origin such as
acritarchs or dinoflagellates were not observed.
The palynofacies (Combaz, 1964) reflects a
non-marine, possibly swamp, environment of
deposition. The following taxa were identified
(nomenclature after de Jersey & Raine, 1990):
Spores: Anapiculatisporites pristidentatus
Reiser & Williams, Baculatisporites com-
aumensis (Cookson) Potonie, Biretisporites sp.,
Clavatisporites sp.A of de Jersey & Raine 1990,
Dictyophyllidites mortonii (de Jersey) Playford
& Dettmann, Densoisporites psilatus (de Jer-
sey) Raine & de Jersey, ?Distaverrusporites
visscheri (de Jersey) de Jersey & Raine, Os-
mundacidites sp. , Polycingulatisporites
crenulatus Playford & Dettmann, Striatella
seebergensis Madler, Uvaesporites verrucosus
(de Jersey) Helby, gen. indet. A (zonate, cavate
 158 M. S. POLE & 1. I. RAINE
trilete spore), gen. indet. B (trilete spore with
perine),
Pollen: Alisporites australis de Jersey, Alispor-
ites lowoodensis de Jersey, Alisporites simi/is
(Balme) Dettmann, Alisporites warepanus
Raine, Alisporites spp., Cycadopitesfollicularis
Wilson & Webster, Cycadopites sp. A of de
Jersey & Raine 1990, Inaperturopollenites sp.,
Podocarpidites sp., Rugaletes awakinoensis
Raine.
The palynoflora is dominated by bisaccate
gymnospermous pollen, mainly Alisporites
spp., consistent with the relative abundance of
corystosperm macrofossils. Moderately com-
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mon pollen of Cycadopites spp. may be of
peltasperm origin, although pollen of this form
is known in other gymnosperm groups; other
pollen taxa are represented by only one or two
specimens. The cryptogam component is less
abundant than the pteridosperm but includes
taxa of bryophytic (Polycingulatisporites) ,
lycopsid (Densoisporites, Uvaesporitest and
filicopsid (Baculatisporites, Biretisporites, Os-
mundacidites, Striatella) affinity, as well as
others of less certain relationship. The assem-
blage appears to have been derived from a
floristically mixed pteridosperm vegetation
with accessory cryptogams. An Otamitan to
early Otapirian (Late Triassic, Norian-Rhaet-
ian) age is suggested on the following basis.
Polycingulatisporites crenulatus is a zonal index
species with a first appearance datum in the
Otamitan Stage (early to middle Norian) of the
Murihiku sequence (de Jersey & Raine, 1990);
Striatella seebergensis has a first appearance
datum of Oretian (early Norian); Rugaletes
awakinoensis has so far been observed only in
Otapirian and Aratauran (Hettangian-Sinemur-
ian) stages; taxa which first appear in the up-
permost Triassic and which are typical of the
Early Jurassic, notably Foveosporites
moretonensis, Corollina and Retitriletes, were
not observed. Densoisporites psilatus is gener-
ally more abundant in Otapirian assemblages
from Southland than in this sample. This may
signify that the Pollock Road strata pre-date the
Otapirian D. psilatus acme, alternatively the
abundance of this species may be reduced by
local ecological factors. On balance, assign-
ment to the Polycingulatisporites crenulatus
ALCHERINGA
Zone of de Jersey & Raine (1990) seems appro-
priate.
Ecology
The Pollock Road assemblages are different
from any of those described by Retallack
(1977). The 'Pachydermophylletum' (man-
grove scrub) is described by Retallack as 'an
almost monospecific association of
Pachydermophyllum leaves', while the
'Phoenicopsetum' (levee-bank scrub) 'consists
largely of Phoenicopsis leaves, together with
very few remains of plants also found in the
"Dicroidietum odontopteroidium"'. However,
Retallack (1981) regards Phoenicopsis as a mis-
identification in Gondwanaland and these leaves
should be referred to Heidiphyllum Retallack.
There is ample scope for some confusion be-
tween Phoenicopsis and the taxonomically
broader genus Desmiophyllum which is present
at Pollock Road. Apart from the single speci-
men of Dicroidium and the Gingkophytopsis
leaves, the diversity is not present to imply a
.Dicroidietum odontopteroidium' (broadleaf
forest) at Pollock Road.
Retallack (1985), in discussion of Triassic
plants from the Murihiku Supergroup, sug-
gested Gingkophytopsis grew in 'coastal swamp
woodlands dominated by Linguifolium' (the
Linguifolietum of Retallack, 1977). However
no Linguifolium has been found in the Pollock
Road localities.
Regional considerations would suggest the
Pollock Road localities accumulated not far
from a coast line, perhaps on a delta. Material
was probably not transported far before burial,
in fact the beds of liverworts were probably
buried in their growth position, covering a moist
river levee (A. Drinnan, pers. comm., 1992).
Acknowledgements
M. S. Pole wishes to thank S. M. Cournane and
D. S. Coombs for involving him in the discovery
of the plant locality. We thank the landowner,
Mr L. Peters, for access. Heidi Anderson,
Andrew Drinnan and Bob Hill have -all made
helpful comments on the macrofossils. We
especially appreciate the helpful comments of
the referees, W. B. K. Holmes, and G. 1.
Retallack. The macrofossil work was begun in
 ALCHERINGA
the Department of Geology, University of
Otago, while Pole was a recipient of a UGC
scholarship, and was completed in the Depart-
ment of Plant Science, University of Tasmania,
with funding by the Australian Research Coun-
cil.
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