Palaeogeographic distribution and ecology of Klitzschophyllites, an early Cretaceous angiosperm in southern Laurasia and northern Gondwana

An emended description, new combinations and a synonymy list of the late Early Cretaceous angiosperm Klitzschophyllites Lejal-Nicol, 1987, possibly an early monocot with a southern Laurasian and north Gondwanan distribution, is given. The morphological features of Klitzschophyllites, such as the coriaceous, spinose, glanduliferous leaves, are analysed to understand its ecology. In addition, an overview of fossil plants that are associated with Klitzschophyllites and sedimentological data from those localities are listed and interpreted. All these data lead to the conclusion that during the late Early Cretaceous Klitzschophyllites was most probably adapted to drought, and possibly to disturbed and hypersaline environments. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.