A review of Permian Gondwana megaspores, with particular emphasis on material collected from coals of the Witbank Basin of South Africa and the Sydney Basin of Australia

The study of material from selected seams within the Sydney Basin of Australia and the Witbank Basin of South Africa revealed the need for a review of Permian Gondwana megaspore taxonomy. The study material has been integrated with a taxonomic review of previously published Permian megaspore data. Scanning electron microscopy analysis of the study material reveals many specimens which appear superficially verrucate, but which are in fact abraded. Doubts are raised as to the validity of some established verrucate Permian Gondwana species described by light microscopy alone. This paper proposes a Permian Gondwana megaspore taxonomy that does not rely on the features of the inner body, as have many previous studies. This revised taxonomic approach to these megaspores permits rapid identification of Gondwana megaspores without the need for the destructive maceration of what may be taxonomically significant material. A key is provided for the identification of specimens. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.