Mildenhall, D. C., and D. T. Pocknall, 1989.

New Zealand Geological Survey Paleontological Bulletin 59:1-128.
New Zealand Geological Survey, DSIR, Lower Hutt. ISSN 0114-2283.

Nothofagidites Erdtman ex Potonié, 1960;
A Catalogue of Species with Notes on the Paleogeographic
Distribution of Nothofagus Bl. (Southern Beech)

Dettmann, M. E., D. T. Pocknall, E. J. Romero, M. del Carmen Zamaloa, 1990.

Reviewed by David M. Jarzen*, Canadian Museum of Nature, Ottawa, Ontario,
in CAP Newsletter 13(1):16-18, 1990.

With the publication of Bulletins 59 and 60, the New Zealand Department of Scientific and Industrial Research continues its fine tradition of pro-ducing top quality research reports on a variety of subject matters, and with these bulletins, topics of special interest to palynologists.

The first, Bulletin 59, by Dallas Mildenhall and David Pocknall, expands upon the collaborative work of these two authors in their investiga-tions of Tertiary-Pleistocene spore-pollen assemblages from central Otago in the southern part of the South Island, New Zealand. The Tertiary sediments of central Otago are virtually non-marine and thus age dating relies mostly upon plant macro- and microfossil zonation.

The authors have examined ten sub-surface and surface sequences spanning the early Miocene through the Pliocene to early Pleistocene. Sixty-four spore-pollen species were selected to delimit four biostratigraphic zones. Five new genera and 22 new species are described. Twenty other taxa are newly combined or re-described. After the formalities of a brief introduction, methods and geologic setting, most of the text is devoted to the systematics.

The systematics are clearly written, detailed and provide the reader with full details as to synonomy, comparisons and in the case of new species, holotype location, type locality data and name derivation. These descriptions are indeed a pleasure to see, inasmuch as all too frequently descriptions of new taxa leave the reader blank, with little hope of comparing a particular palynomorph with a newly described form. Of special interest is the inclusion, when appropriate, of suggested botanical affinities for most of the taxa discussed. This information is of course crucial for an understanding of the palaeoecology and palaeoclimate as discussed in the last few pages of the text.

The great diversity of the palyno-floras is linked with a "dynamic, constantly changing, local terrestrial environment caused by a combination of tectonic activity, changing climatic patterns, fire, soil parent material and sediment sources".

Twenty beautifully prepared plates, using LM and SEM photomicrographs, complement the main text and provide the reader with a clear picture of the late Tertiary palynomorph diversity with which the authors worked.

The second bulletin, number sixty, by Mary Dettman, David Pocknall, Edgardo Romero and Maria del Carmen Zamaloa is an example of the sort of co-operative work which needs to be done in order to synthesize the data associated with a taxon having a wide geographic distribution.

Here at last is a compilation of all validly named species (36 total) within Nothofagidites complete with synonomy, holotype designation, type locality data, complete, detailed descriptions, remarks and comparisons and notes on affinities with extant taxa or groups. And all in one volume!

The genus Nothofagidites, with affinities to the extant Nothofagus, is a key southern hemisphere pollen taxa which provides clues as to the development, migration and subsequent diversification or restriction of the pollen form in Australian, New Zealand, and South American/Antarctic Late Cretaceous and Tertiary deposits.

The bulletin follows a logical sequence of format, from an introduction of approach, methods, early history of studies on Nothofagidites through a review of the three morphologically delineable extant pollen types (i.e., fusca, menziesii and brassii types) and ending with a review of the phytogeographic and phylogenetic relationships.

All species are clearly identified and details of nomenclatural types and repositories are provided for each of the main geographic subdivsions. A look at the type locality and stratigraphic data may overwhelm the reader with the complex task the authors faced in sorting out the often confused and sometimes incom-plete earlier work on Nothofagidites.

Photographs employing normal brightfield, differential inteference contrast, and phase-contrast techniques, as well as detailed line drawings are provided for all species described. The references cited and extensive index allow the reader easy access to the literature associated with the fossil and extant species.

As an aficionado of the history of palynology, I was pleased to read the dedication of this bulletin to the early pioneers in the study of Nothofagus pollen, including Drs. Cookson, Cranwell, Couper and Te Punga.

Both bulletins are somewhat costly at $60.00 US for Bulletin 59 and $50.00 US for Bulletin 60, but judging from the quality of work and completeness of both volumes, I feel the cost is warranted. Both bulletins are available from: Publications Officer, N.Z. Geological Survey, P.O. Box 30368, Lower Hutt, New Zealand Fax: (04) 691479

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*Present address: Florida Museum of Natural History, Department of Natural Sciences, University of Florida, P.O.Box 117800, Gainesville, Florida 32611-7800, U.S.A.