The New Zealand fossil record of ferns for the past 85 million years

Abstract

The near-continuous record of the New Zealand terrestrial flora since the landmass broke away from Gondwana provides an excellent opportunity to assess the history of the pteridophyte flora in the region. A database of all published records of fossil ferns from the late Cretaceous onwards is presented, along with references to original reports. This compilation provides evidence for the time of arrival for fern lineages, continuity of their presence, and times of radiation, thereby greatly assisting the reconstruction of the history and biogeography of ferns in the region. Additionally, it provides a valuable source of lineage age estimates, which are required to calibrate the molecular clock for much needed molecular studies on pteridophytes. © 2006 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.