A critical account of recent records of Devonian megaflora from the Iberian Peninsula, in geological context

Records of plant megafossils in the Devonian of the Iberian Peninsula refer to sparse drifted remains in marine strata, apart from unidentifiable debris, and misidentified ichnofossils. The age attributions are sometimes questionable. A critical analysis leaves only five localities with incidental Devonian plant megafossils capable of sustaining approximate taxonomic identifications. Another two localities of possible late Devonian age are more likely earliest Carboniferous. The various records are discussed in their geological context, taking into account that the Iberian Massif was constituted from different terranes in Pennsylvanian times. A critical discussion is presented of the reviews published by Montero (2008) and Montero and Diéguez (2010), particularly the latter which adds considerations on floral composition and sedimentary environments which lack a factual basis. A later paper by Cascales-Miñana et al. (2011) is commented on.

► Criticism. ► Revision Devonian plant determinations. ► Geological context provided.