First discovery of Samaropollenites and the Onslow microflora in the upper triassic of Israel, and its phytogeographic implications

Core samples from the lower part of the Carnian succession in southern Israel include a unique palynological assemblage dominated by Samaropollenites speciosus, Protodiploxypinus crenulatus, Falcisporites stabilis, Enzonalasporites vigens and Staurosaccites quadrifidus. Composition and age of the assemblage are comparable to equivalent Late Triassic assemblages in Malagasy, western and eastern Australia, India, Sicily, Libya, Spain, Turkey and Syria. These assemblages are, entirely or partially, characteristic of the Onslow Microflora, a mixture of both Gondwanian and Laurasian elements, whose most significant palynomorph is Somaropollenites speciosus. This is the first detailed report of "Onslow Microflora" from the Middle East; its geographic distribution can be used as an indicator for the paleogeography of the southern margins of the Tethys during the Late Triassic.