Davallia (Polypodiales: Davalliaceae) macrofossils from Early Miocene Otago (New Zealand) with in situ spores

Abstract

Fossil fern fronds referable to the extant fern genus Davallia (Polypodiales: Davalliaceae) bearing sporangia with in situ spores are described from the Early Miocene Foulden Maar diatomite deposit, Otago, New Zealand. The fronds are the first published Southern Hemisphere macrofossil record for the family and provide valuable palaeoclimate data supporting warm conditions in Early Miocene New Zealand. The matching of Davallia fronds to the form spore taxon Polypodiisporites radiatus shows that the genus has had a long, apparently continuous history throughout late Cenozoic New Zealand. © 2010 Elsevier B.V.