Early Triassic megaspores from the Rewan Group, Bowen Basin, Queensland

Abstract

A flora of dispersed megaspores is described from the uppermost (Early Triassic) part of the Rewan Group in the subsurface of the southeastern Bowen Basin, Queensland. Four species, all new, are assigned to three genera, one of which (Bowenispora) is new. The species are Nathorstisporites muricatus, Banksisporites dejerseyi, Banksisporites viriosus, and Bowenispora tumidosa (type species). Accompanying the megaspore assemblage is a profuse miospore flora which is dominated by the genus Aratrisporites Leschik emend. Playford & Dettmann 1965 of presumed lycopsid affinity. Microspores attributable to the latter genus are often found attached to our Banksisporites megaspores (Aratrisporites tenuispinosus Playford 1965) and to Nathorstisporites muricatus (A. cf. wollariensis Helby 1967), thus providing admittedly circumstantial indications of megaspore-microspore natural relationships among the presumed lycopsid parent plants. The currently very limited knowledge of Australian earlier Triassic megaspores precludes any definitive biostratigraphic applications, but the florule is clearly distinct from known Gondwanic assemblages of comparable age.