Cool-temperate riparian floras in the Early Cretaceous rift valley of Victoria, Australia

Abstract

To better understand the riparian floras associated with Early Cretaceous vertebrate localities in Victoria, Australia, we studied 291 palynological samples from 48 sites in the Otway and Gippsland basins. Podocarpaceae represent the major component of the open canopy forests of the Barremian–Aptian, whereas Araucariaceae are increasingly prolific in the Albian. Ferns, particularly Cyatheaceae, represent large components of the understorey flora through the Barremian–Aptian, whereas Schizaeaceae and Gleicheniaceae ferns and angiosperms are more common in the Albian. Notably, all recorded palynofloras imply a high-rainfall regime, despite the high palaeolatitude (70–85°S), through the Barremi..