Article: Devonian miospore assemblages from Fair Isle, Shetland

Miospore assemblages have been isolated from a Devonian sequence of Old Red Sandstone fades, on Fair Isle, Shetland. The special problems encountered in processing these palynomorphs with their high carbonization levels and subsequent darkening are mentioned. Thirty miospore species are recorded and their taxonomic problems and stratigraphical significance are discussed. Comparisons with similar assemblages from the northern hemisphere indicate a Givetian (in parts specifically late Givetian) age for the Fair Isle material. The genus Rhabdosporites Richardson 1960 is emended, and R. langii Richardson 1960 and R.parvulus Richardson 1965 are combined. The ecological significance of Geminspora (Balme) Owens 1971 is discussed.