Study on Cathaysian Flora in Zhongzhou

During the Late Paleozoic Carboniferous and Permian, four flora were gradually formed and developed on the earth, namely, the European and American flora, Gondwana flora, Angara flora and Cathaysian flora. China is the only country with four flora, mainly the breeding ground of Cathaysian flora.

Cathaysian flora refers to all the flora of Carboniferous and Permian (Li Xingxue et al., 1995).

The Cathaysian flora of China is distributed in the vast area of China-Korea platform (plate) except the "angara Flora" in the northern Tianshan-Xing 'an Mountains and the "Gondwana Flora" in southern Tibet and western Yunnan, which is called Cathaysian Flora. The Qinling-Dabie Mountain line is divided into "North China" in the north and "South China" in the south. North China can be divided into three sub-regions (Shen Guanglong et al., 1995): North China sub-region, North China sub-region and South China sub-region (also called Yuxi-Huaibei sub-region).

In Henan Province, from the northern foot of Qinling-Dabie Mountain in the south, to the southern foot of Anyang River in the north, from Taihang Mountain, Xiaoshan Mountain and east of Qinling Mountain in the west, and below Huanghuaihai Plain in the east, there are Carboniferous and Permian coal measures strata, which are not only rich in coal resources, but also ancient plant fossils, belonging to the nature of Cathaysian flora. Henan, known as Zhongzhou in ancient times, is called "Zhongzhou Huaxia Flora Area".

The Cathaysian flora of Zhongzhou has obvious regional characteristics and can be called "Cathaysian flora of Zhongzhou". According to the geotectonic background, sedimentary environment, lithostratigraphy, coal-bearing properties and paleobotanic characteristics, it can be divided into three communities: the northern part of Henan (north of Kaifeng sag) is called the Cathaysian flora community in central Henan, and the southern part is called the Cathaysian flora community in central Henan (Song cluster); Also known as the Cathaysian plant community in Zhongzhou, southern Henan Province (Dabie Mountain Community), it is bounded by Ruyang-Fangcheng-Queshan (with Weimosi fault as the boundary).

The northern part of Henan is roughly equivalent to "China North Asia" and the central part is roughly equivalent to "South China North Asia". The zoning in the south is suitable for "pre-Cathaysian flora (region)" (Wu, et al., 2008).

Carboniferous and Permian strata and ancient plants in Henan Province have been studied by domestic experts and scholars in geology and paleontology (Si Xingjian,1954; Li Xingxue,1995; Wu, 1987, 1992, 2008; Yang Guanxiu et al.,1985 ~ 2006; Feng Shaonan et al.,1977; Yao et al., 1989,1993; Zhang Shanzhen et al.,1979; Chen Fen et al.,1996; He Xilin et al.,1998; Wang Jun et al.,1996 ~ 2004; Zhang Yi et al., 2006; Sun Bainian et al., 1998,1999; Xi Yun Hong et al., 1977, 1987, 2008; Yang et al., 1989,1991; Zhang Shi, 1990,1991; Wang Rennong et al.,1982 ~1997; Small, 1986,1988; Wang Ziqiang et al.,1986 ~1993; Wait a minute. ) has achieved fruitful results and made outstanding contributions to the Carboniferous and Permian (North China type) stratigraphic paleontology research in Henan.

The paleontological assemblage of Cathaysian flora in Zhongzhou is basically clear, but due to the changes of Carboniferous dichotomy and Permian dichotomy, and the disagreement of researchers on the boundary, the objective existence of each group of paleontological fossils is not clear or even chaotic. Therefore, on the basis of Investigation and Evaluation of Paleontological Fossil Geological Relics Resources in Henan Province (hereinafter referred to as Investigation and Evaluation), this book summarizes the achievements that have contributed to Henan Province for several generations, and makes a preliminary summary and discussion on the characteristics and stages of various plant combinations of Cathaysian flora in Zhongzhou according to the sequence of geological periods (see Table 4.2). The list of fossils in this paper is mainly quoted from Yang Guanxiu and others. In 2006, in addition to the "survey and evaluation" collection and signatories. Yang et al.,1991; Wu,1992; Chen Fen et al.,1996; Xi Yun Hong et al., 1977, 1987, 2008; Wang Jun, 1996,1999; Wait a minute.