Relationships between plant communities characterization and basin formation in the Carboniferous-Permian of Sardinia

Central and south Sardinia basins are coeval with the extensional postcollision phase of the Sardinian branch of the Variscan Chain. Palynological remains of lacustrine and fluvial-lacustrine strata, preserve with acceptable approximation the floral composition of the areas surrounding each basin and their individual vegetation structure. On a quantitative base, we recognize name four distinct palynological phases: Pteridophytic pre- Striatiti pollen Phase (Westphalian C-Stephanian A); Florinites Phase (Stephanian/Autunian) with relatively dominant Cordaites pollen grains; Potonieisporites Phase (Asselian) with dominant Voltziales (Potonieisporites) monosaccate pollens; Vittatina-Striatiti pollen Phase (Asselian- (?)Sakmarian age) corresponding to a notable increasing of vittatinids and disaccate taeniatae pollen grains. Coupling physiognomy of the major paleobotanical component for each palynological phase, and regional geology, a hypothesis on the relationships between basins evolution and post-collision exhumation is given.