Lower Cretaceous flora from Byers Peninsula, South Shetland islands, Antarctica

• Main Authors: Césari, S., Parica, C., Remesal, M., Salani, F.
• Format: Journal/Newspaper
• Language: unknown
• Subjects: Antarctica; Byers Peninsula; Cerro Negro Formation; Cretaceous; Paleofloras; Systematics; flora; stratigraphic correlation; Antarc*; Antarctic; Antarctic Peninsula; South Shetland Islands
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12110/paper_00027014_v36_n1_p3_Cesari

New paleofloristic findings on Byers Peninsula, Shetland Islands, Antarctica, expand our knowledge about Mesozoic floras from that continent. Twenty-seven taxa of hepatophytes, equisetaleans, ferns, pteridosperms, bennettitaleans, pentoxylaleans and conifers are described. The first occurrence of hepatophytes, equisetaleans, and fertile leptosporangiate ferns in the palaeoflora is documented. The flora is an important reference assemblage, because it is radiometrically dated as early Aptian. Stratigraphical correlation with the northern Antarctic Peninsula and southernmost South America, as well as comparisons with similar floras and palynological data are discussed.