The late Oligocene flora from the Río Leona Formation, Argentinian Patagonia

Published Date
Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology
May 2015, Vol.216:143–158, doi:10.1016/j.revpalbo.2015.01.002

• Author 

• Silvia N. Césari ^a,,
• Carolina Panti ^a
• Roberto R. Pujana ^a
• Jane E. Francis ^b
• Sergio A. Marenssi ^c

• aMuseo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales, “B. Rivadavia”, Av. Ángel Gallardo 470, C1405DJR Buenos Aires, Argentina
• bBritish Antarctic Survey High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0ET, United Kingdom
• cIGEBA, Departamento de Geología, Universidad de Buenos Aires (1428), Argentina

Received 24 July 2014. Revised 9 January 2015. Accepted 12 January 2015. Available online 28 January 2015. 

Highlights

• •
  Oligocene fossil plants are described from the Argentinian Patagonia.
• •
  Sixteen angiosperm morphotypes are recognized together one fern and conifer.
• •
  Nothofagaceae, Rosaceae, Myrtaceae, Typhaceae and Fabales are the most abundant.
• •
  Abundant permineralized woods and palynomorphs complete the plant record.

Abstract

A late Oligocene plant macrofossil assemblage is described from the Río Leona Formation, Argentinian Patagonia. This includes a fern, “Blechnum” turbioenseFrenguelli, one species of conifer, and sixteen angiosperm taxa. Rosaceae, Myrtaceae, Proteaceae, Lauraceae, Anacardiaceae and Typhaceae are represented by one species in each family. Five species are considered to be members of the Fabales. Three leaf taxa together with Carpolithus seeds are placed in the Nothofagaceae. Palynomorphs and permineralized woods complete the floral record of the Río Leona Formation, which is considered early late Oligocene based on radiometric dating and palynofloras.

Keywords

Oligocene

Fossil leaves

Fern

Conifer

Angiosperms

Patagonia

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Table 1.

• DOC (902K)

Appendix

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  Corresponding author.
  
  

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