Taxonomic revision of some Tertiary tricolporate and tricolpate pollen grains from New Zealand

Abstract

Tricolpites alveolatus Couper is tricolporate and is transferred to the genus Rhoipites Wodehouse. An emended description is given. Tricolpites matauraensis Couper, Tricolporopollenites transversalis Martin, and Rhoipites isoreticulatus Kemp are regarded as junior synonyms of the new combination Rhoipites alveolatus. Tricolpites waimumuensis Couper and T. pilatus Couper are transferred to Rhoipites and their descriptions are emended. The genus Tricolporites Cookson is regarded as a junior synonym of Rhoipites and its type species T. sphaerica Cookson is subsequently transferred. Tricolpites variexinus Couper and Tricolporopollenites sphaerica (Cookson) of Martin are synonyms of R. sphaerica. Liliacidites waitunaenis Couper is not monosulcate but tricolpate and is transferred to the genus Tricolpites Cookson ex Couper and an emended description is given.

Keywords:

• palynology
• tricolporate pollen
• tricolpate pollen
• Rhoipites
• Tricolpites
• Tricolporites
• Tertiary
• New Zealand