A new megaflora (leaves and reproductive structures) from the Huancané Formation (Lower Cretaceous), Peru

Abstract

We describe fossil leaves and reproductive structures remains from the Lower Cretaceous of Peru. A great part of the plant fossils are very well preserved, and they come from three different stratigraphic levels of the Huancané Formation in a single locality close to Cusco City. The fossil flora is dominated by Brachyphyllum, Cupressinocladus, Podozamites, leaves assigned to the Araucariaceae and Araucarites Presl. Other leaf fossil-genera found are: Weichselia, Sagenopteris, Sphenopteris, and Pachypteris. This fossil assemblage is consistent with the age inferred for the Huancané Formation, which was based on biostratigraphic and isotopic studies. The plant assemblage suggests a forest canopy dominated by conifers, with an understore composed by ferns (Weichselia) and putative pteridosperms. These new data increase the knowledge of the palaeofloristic composition of the Cretaceous flora of Peru, contribute to the fossil record of South America, and particularly to the palaeoflora near equatorial regions.