A new fossil conifer, Bellarinea richardsii, from the Early Cretaceous Strzelecki Group, southeastern Victoria

Abstract

A new species of fossil conifer foliage, Bellarinea richardsii, is described and illustrated from Neocomian (Early Cretaceous) sediments of the Tyers River Subgroup in south-eastern Victoria. The specimens consist of intact seasonal shoots and isolated leaves, and their depositional setting in prominent leaf mats suggests a seasonal, deciduous habit. Individual leaves are spirally inserted on the shoot axis but the leaf bases are twisted to lie on a common plane giving the shoots plagiotropic symmetry. Although lacking attached reproductive structures the gross morphology and cuticular details of the shoots and leaves suggests assignment to either Podocarpaceae or Taxodiaceae. This species a..