AN EARLY TO MIDDLE PLEISTOCENE FLORA OF SUB-ALPINE AFFINITIES IN LOWLAND WESTERN TASMANIA

Macro- and micro-fossil plants are described from Early to Middle Plei stocene sediments at Regatta Point, western Tasmania. The sediments ar e floristically and lithologically distinct from other sediments at th e same site, and contain a precursor to modern subalpine vegetation. T he sediments contain foliage, characteristic of modern western Tasmani an subalpine and alpine rainforest species. Pollen and spores suggest the presence of open vegetation similar to modem subalpine heath and h erbfield. A number of taxa are inconsistent with modem high altitude v egetation, which suggests re-assortment of plant associations during p eriods of climate change.