Macrozamia from the early tertiary of Tasmania and a study of the cuticles of extant species

Abstract

A new species of Macrozamia, M. australis, is described from the Oligocene Cethana deposit. Cuticular characters can be used to separate the two sections of the genus but the combination of cuticular features of M. australis is unique. Analysis of extant adult and juvenile cuticles confirms that section Parazamia is composed of neotenous species but indicates that this may not be a monophyletic group. The ecological significance of the presence of Macrozamia in a macrofossil flora which contains numerous microthermal rainforest elements (including Nothofagus) and sclerophyllous taxa is discussed.