Since Richthofen’s first discovery of Gigantopteris flora in southern Hunan, it has been found to occur very extensively in China. This remarkable flora not only presents certain palaeobotanical interests but appears very important in determining the geological age of many coal-bearing series. Since Richthofen’s first discovery of Gigantopteris flora in southern Hunan, it has been found to occur very extensively in China. This remarkable flora not only presents certain palaeobotanical interests but appears very important in determining the geological age of many coal-bearing series.