THE PERMIAN (TATARIAN) FLORA FROM THE KOTELNICH VERTEBRATE LOCALITY (KIROV OBLAST)

Abstract

Plant remains (macrofossils, and miospores) from the exposure near the town of Kotel'nich, Kirov oblast, which is primarily known as a vertebrate locality, are considered. The macrofossil assemblage can be referred to the Tatarina flora, but it contains unusually abundant arthrophytes. Miospores indicate an older age of the locality than previously accepted. This is supported by the position of the locality in the stratotype section of the Tatarian Stage at the Vyatka River (the Yurpalovo Beds of Forsh). The significance of the studied flora for the correlation of the stratotype section with other sections in the Russian platform and, above all, with the reference section at the Sukhona River is discussed. Taphonomic analysis of the late Tatarian flora localities suggests that this locality was formed in the extensive lake basin not far from a shore.