The Cathaysian flora : An overview

Abstract

Beginning with the first discovery of gigantopteroid fossils from the Permian coal formation in Hunan province, South China by Richthofen in 1870, the research history of the Cathaysian flora may be divided into three stages: 1. Initial Stage (1870-1926); 2. Founding Stage (1927-1959); 3. Flourishing Stage (1960- present). The paper emphasizes that a good progress has been made in the third stage mainly by the Chinese palaeobotanists and palynologists. An attempt is also made to carry out some problems and prospects for researches of the Cathaysian flora in the near future.