Which one of the following countries is devoid of Glossopteris flora?...
Glossopteris flora is found in Australia, India and South Africa. They are not found in Norway.
View all questions of this test
Which one of the following countries is devoid of Glossopteris flora?...
Glossopteris flora refers to a type of plant fossil that is found in the Southern Hemisphere, particularly in the ancient supercontinent known as Gondwana. Glossopteris plants were dominant during the Permian period, around 300 million years ago. They were characterized by their large leaves with a distinct shape and veining pattern.
Among the given options, the country that is devoid of Glossopteris flora is Norway.
Reasons:
1. Geological History:
- Norway is located in the Northern Hemisphere and was part of the ancient supercontinent of Laurasia, which later formed the northern portion of the supercontinent Pangaea.
- Glossopteris flora was predominantly found in the Southern Hemisphere, specifically in regions that were part of Gondwana.
2. Paleobotanical Evidence:
- Numerous fossil discoveries have been made in Australia, India, and South Africa, all of which were part of Gondwana and have evidence of Glossopteris flora.
- However, there is no recorded evidence of Glossopteris flora in Norway or any other region that was part of Laurasia.
3. Plate Tectonics and Continental Drift:
- The distribution of Glossopteris flora is closely tied to the theory of plate tectonics and continental drift.
- According to this theory, the supercontinent Pangaea began to break apart around 200 million years ago, leading to the separation of Gondwana and Laurasia.
- As the continents drifted apart, Glossopteris flora remained restricted to the Southern Hemisphere, while Laurasia moved towards the Northern Hemisphere.
In conclusion, Norway is devoid of Glossopteris flora because it was located in Laurasia, which was separate from Gondwana where the flora was prevalent. The absence of Glossopteris fossils in Norway is consistent with the geological history and paleobotanical evidence of the distribution of Glossopteris flora in the Southern Hemisphere.