New Pitus and Eristophyton-type woods from the Tournaisian of Queensland, Australia: taxonomic, biogeographic, and palaeoclimatic implications

The fossil record of arborescent lignophytes shows an increasing anatomical diversity during the Tournaisian (360-347 Mya), suggesting a morpho-anatomical diversification following extinction progymnosperm Archaeopteris Dawson, 1871 at Devonian-Carboniferous boundary. This view has been partly constructed on recent investigations Early Carboniferous deposits in eastern Australia. In this paper, we describe new silicified wood remains from Burdekin Basin, northeastern Queensland, Australia, that are anatomically close to genera Pitus Zalessky, 1911 and Eristophyton Gordon, 1935. While uncertain, taxonomic affinities these have several implications for future studies lignophytes. First, taxonomy become increasingly problematic as reports assigned extended beyond Laurussia. Second, Eastern Gondwanan Laurussian floras display convergent pattern Devonian, with probable presence lignophyte trees Carboniferous. Third, convergence between Laurussia Australia respect anatomy discrete growth rings may be consistent past suggestions monsoonal circulation