Talk:Laurelia

Gondwanan distribution and Laurelia
Question asked at Wikipedia Science Desk:

There are two species of Laurelia, one native to the Andes - Laurelia sempervirens (Chilean Laurel, Peruvian Laurel, Peruvian Nutmeg) and the other found in New Zealand - Laurelia novae-zelandiae (Pukatea).

When I saw one of these trees, growing at Enys in Cornwall, UK, yesterday, the Head Gardener said they were examples of "Gondwanan distribution". I have looked at the Gondwana article, but this is very brief on the topic, which is a REDIRECT to Godwana.

I would like to know more about the differences between the two species and when, approximately, they diverged, due to the separation of New Zealand and South America from the Gondwanan continent. Vernon White '''. . . Talk''' 19:24, 5 May 2008 (UTC)

Reply:


 * I shall leave the differences to the botanists. As for the divergence, as I understand it, dating the Gondwanan distribution is not easy. For example, in a discussion on ferns, Te Ara Encyclopediaof NZ  suggests that some distribution was windborne.  this Te Ara page also discusses the time span, ocean distribution and later isolation.  Googling Pukatea + Gondwanan yields 39 results which might bear investigation. Gwinva (talk) 05:17, 6 May 2008 (UTC)