Cretaceous (Late Albian) coniferales of Alexander Island, Antarctica. 2. Leaves, reproductive structures and roots

Coniferous foliage from the Albian of Alexander Island, Antarctica, is assi gned to the Araucariaceae, Podocarpaceae, and Taxodiaceae based on attached or associated fertile remains. Araucarian foliage represented by Araucaria alexandrensis sp. nov. and A. chainbersii sp. nov. is associated with ovul ate cone scales described as Araucarites wollemiaformis sp. nov. and A. cit adelbastionensis sp. nov., respectively. The Podocarpaceae is represented b y Bellingshausium willeyii sp. nov. and the Taxodiaceae by Athrotaxites ung eri, both with attached cones. Sterile foliage is widespread belonging to t he form genera Podozamites, Elatocladus, Brachyphyllum and Pagiophyllum. Th e conifers in this Albian southern high-latitude flora make up ca. 15% of t he species diversity. Evidence from leaf litter distribution on palaeosols and leaf morphology suggest that the majority of conifers were large canopy -forming trees, although a few were probably small understorey shrubs. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.