The Brandy Creek fossil flora

Abstract

A detailed quantitative study of the fossil flora, paleoclimate and paleoecology of the Eocene Brandy Creek fossil site, Bogong High Plains, Victoria, Australia was undertaken. Taxonomic assessment of Leaf macrofossils reveal 18 morphotypes that have affinity with nearest living relatives including Lauraceae genera Cryptocarya, Endiandra and Litsea and the families of Cunoiaceae and Elaeocarpaceae. The pollen and spore record at Brandy Creek reveals 36 paynomorphs, with many of them having affinities with fossil and modern Dicksoniaceae, Araurcariaceae and Proteaceae and Nothofagus