A review of the Early Permian flora from Papua (West New Guinea)

A flora of approximately twenty species has been found in the Permian Aiduna Formation along the southern side of the main suture zone in Papua (West New Guinea). The flora has close affinities with both the Gondwanaland and the Cathaysian floras. All named species are endemic excepting Trizygia speciosa and the Gondwanan Vertebraria indica. Eleven species of Glossopteris from the Gondwanaland flora dominate the flora, however the Cathaysian-related Gigantonoclea and Fascipteris also occur. Pecopterid fronds do not emphasize any particular geographical relationship. The seed plants Glossopteris and Gigantonoclea needed a direct land connection with Gondwanaland and Cathaysia respectively during the time of growth or slightly earlier so they could spread to the area of modem New Guinea.