DSDP Site 214, at about 11°S on the 90E Ridge in the Indian Ocean penetrated below about 340 m to 500 m a sequence of carbonaceous to lignitic clays and sands interbedded with volcaniclastics. Palynolnological evidence, spores, pollen and dinoflagellate cysts, indicates a Paleocene age for this part of the sequence and correlation is within the Australasian region rather than the tropics of Africa, South America, India or south east Asia. Below about 390 m the sequence is entirely non-marine. Above this, marine influence is dominant. The microflora indicates a temperate climate of high rainfall not dissimilar to present climates of south east Australia or New Zealand. But the assemblage is restricted in that many characteristic species and genera (e.g. Proteaidites) of Australasian early Tertiary rocks are absent and the flora must have been oceanic-island in aspect with no direct contact with continental masses. It is suggested that the northern part of the 90E Ridge was in temperate regions during the Paleocene and moved northwards after the separation of the Australian and Antarctic plates. There is no palynological evidence to support a connection of this part of the Ridge with either India or south east Asia.