^'^^•'1 CnAPUA'N, Geological History of Auslratian Plants. t^t 



The Lower Mesozoic beds of Queensland are represented by 

 the Ipswich Series. Mr. A. B. Walkom, who has lately devoted 

 much study to this flora,* finds its affinities to he with the Trias 

 and Rhaetic of other areas (China, South Africa, Europe). 

 Amongst the plants of this series the following have been 

 described by Walkom, Tenison - Woods, and others : — Phyllo- 

 theca australis, Neocalamites hcvrensis, Schizoneura, sp., Clado- 

 phlebis denticnlata, var. australis, Coniopteris delicatula, Dictyo- 

 phyllum riigosum, Thinnfeldia Feistmanteli, T. odontopteroides 

 and T. acuta, Danceopsis Hughesi, Sagenopteris rhoifolia, 

 Sphenopteris lacunosa and 5. siiperha, Tcsniopteris spatidata, 

 var. Carriithersi, T. lentricidiformis and T. Dunstani, T. {Macro- 

 tcBniopteris) wianamattce, Stenopteris elongata, Ginkgo antarcticus 

 and G. cf. magnifolia, Baiera Simmondsi, B. hidens, B. 

 ipsviciensis and B. ginkgoides, Stachyopitys annular oides and 

 5. Simmondsi, Bennettites, sp., and Pterophyllum multilineatum. 

 Having regard to the sequence of the Queensland beds, the 

 flora has proved of great value in determining their relationships, 

 notwithstanding that many of the plants are common to the 

 later (Walloon) Series. 



In Tasmania also the Mesozoic flora is well developed, but 

 the beds still require systematic palseobotanical investigation. 

 The series is known as the Upper Coal Measures, and probably 

 both Lower and Upper Mesozoic beds are there represented. 

 Amongst the more striking plant remains are Phyllotheca 

 australis, Stenopteris elongata, Thinnfeldia odontopteroides and 

 T. lancifolia, Cladophlebis denticnlata, var. australis, Tceniopteris 

 spatulata, var. Carruthersi, Pterophyllum, and Phcenicopsis 

 elongatus. This latter species, with grass-like leaves, was 

 formerly referred to Z eugophyllites ; its plant relationship is 

 uncertain, and Heer and others have suggested its affinities 

 with Baiera. Phcenicopsis also occurs in the Stormberg Series 

 of South Africa, which is regarded by A. C. Seward as of 

 Rhaetic age, a period of a uniform and widely-distributed flora. 

 However, Walkom finds this genus in his Walloon Series 

 (Upper Mesozoic) and not in the Lower (Ipswich) Series, so 

 that, in Queensland at least, it is abnormally late in its appear- 

 ance. The widely-spread Stenopteris of the Australian Mesozoic 

 flora may have an alliance with the cycads, as suggested by 

 Saporta. 



In the lower part of the Mesozoic series (Trias and Rhaetic) 

 belong the Leigh Creek Coal Beds of South Australia. This 

 occurrence is interesting as being rather exceptional for this 



*" Mesozoic Floras of Queensland," 1915-17. Since this paper was 

 written, a detailed and very useful summary of the geology of the Mesozoic 

 rocks of Queensland has been published by Dr. A. B. Walkom (Proc. Linn. 

 See. N. S. Wales, vol. xliii., part i, 1918, pp. 37-115). 



