Upper Permian and Lower Triassic palynomorphs from eastern Yunnan, China
In eastern Yunnan the Upper Permian Lungtan and Changhsing Formations and the Lower Triassic Kayitou Formation each contain a characteristic assemblage of spores and pollen.The Torispora gigantea – Patellisporites meishanensis assemblage in the Lungtan Formation contains abundant pteridophyte and pteridosperm spores and few gymnosperm pollen. Some genera are known from the Carboniferous and Lower Permian of Europe but most are Cathaysian. The Yunnanospora radiata – Gardenasporites assemblage in the Changhsing Formation has a Paleozoic aspect but characteristic Mesozoic genera and species occur. The Lundbladispora–Aratrisporites–Pteruchipollenites assemblage in the Kayitou Formation contains numerous pteridophyte and pteriodosperm spores and gymnosperm pollen; some Paleozoic genera occur (Crassispora, Lycospora?, Stellisporites, Thymospora, Torispora, Triparites, Triquitrites, and Waltzispora), but Mesozoic genera predominate. Thirty metres above the base of the Kayitou Formation gymnosperm pollen, especia...