Results

The palynological record is summarized in Figure 3, the charcoal record in Figure 4.1 and the cuticle record in Figure 4.2. A diverse flora was present with prominent ferns, Araucariaceae, Podocarpaceae, and angiosperms including a prominent Casuarinaceae and Proteaceae component. Charcoal is almost ubiquitous. Only one of the pollen samples (Kakakhu-17) contained no charcoal. In six of the samples (Kakahu 1, 8, 19, 23, 24, 25) there were more fragments of charcoal than pollen and spores.

Nineteen taxa were recognized based on leaf cuticle (Figure 4.2, Figure 5, Figure 6, Figure 7, Figure 8, Figure 9, Figure 10, Figure 11, Figure 12, Figure 13, Figure 14, and Appendix). There included three forms of conifer (all of which are regarded as Podocarpaceae), one gnetalean, two monocots, five Lauraceae, and a further eight types which are probably dicotyledons.