Antarctic and Gondwana Conifers

Abstract

In Antarctica, the study of fossil plants in general and the conifers in particular is in its infancy, while the potential for work in this area is enormous. Because of its unique position in Gondwana, the information that we can extract from the fossil record there will add greatly to our knowledge of conifer evolution, especially with respect to the major Southern Hemisphere families. Among the extant conifer families, two in particular, the Podocarpaceae and Araucariaceae, are dominant in Gondwana; however, other unique conifers have also been discovered in the Southern Hemisphere, some of which are now included in their own extinct families. These fossils promise to add much to our knowledge of the early evolution of the Coniferales. This chapter discusses the coniferalean remains from Antarctica and Gondwana, excluding ginkgophytes, and is based primarily on mega- fossil evidence.