An ongoing investigation of the middle Miocene (Sarmatian) palynoflora from the Lavanttal Basin c... more An ongoing investigation of the middle Miocene (Sarmatian) palynoflora from the Lavanttal Basin continues to show that it contains an extremely rich assemblage of angiosperm taxa. The Fagales to Rosales pollen record documented here contains 34 different taxa belonging to the Betulaceae (Alnus, Two of the pollen types represent extinct genera, Trigonobalanopsis and Cedrelospermum, and are also reported for the first time from the Lavanttal Basin along with pollen of Rhamnaceae and Prunus. The different types of Quercus pollen are now affiliated with Groups Cerris, Cyclobalanopsis, Ilex and Quercus/Lobatae based on sculpturing elements observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Köppen signatures of potential modern analogues of the fossil Fagales and Rosales suggest a subtropical (Cfa, Cwa) climate at lower elevation and subsequent subtropical to temperate climate with altitudinal succession (Cfa → Cfb/Dfa→ Dfb; Cwa → Cwb → Dwb) in the Lavanttal area during accumulation of the palynoflora. Most of the fossil taxa have potential modern analogues that can be grouped as nemoral and/or merido-nemoral vegetation elements, and the diversity of Fagales indicates a varying landscape with a high variety of niches.
A new fossiliferous horizon from the famous Bletterbach area is described. The new megafossil loc... more A new fossiliferous horizon from the famous Bletterbach area is described. The new megafossil locality of late Permian age yields well-preserved plant megafossils, as well as cuticles and in situ pollen. In the flora representatives of the horsetails, seed ferns (Sphenopteris, Lepidopteris, Peltaspermum), putative cycadophytes (two types of Taeniopteris), ginkgophytes (three different leaf types) and conifers (Ortiseia, Pseudovoltzia, Quadrocladus, Pagiophyllum) were distinguished. Remains of doubtful botanical attribution comprise Dicranophyllum-like leaves and Leptostrobus-type of female fructifications as well as permineralized wood and charcoal. Remains of lycophytes reported from the Bletterbach cannot be confirmed. Some of these groups are recorded for the first time from the Bletterbach.
An ongoing investigation of the middle Miocene (Sarmatian) palynoflora from the Lavanttal Basin c... more An ongoing investigation of the middle Miocene (Sarmatian) palynoflora from the Lavanttal Basin continues to show that it contains an extremely rich assemblage of angiosperm taxa. The Fagales to Rosales pollen record documented here contains 34 different taxa belonging to the Betulaceae (Alnus, Two of the pollen types represent extinct genera, Trigonobalanopsis and Cedrelospermum, and are also reported for the first time from the Lavanttal Basin along with pollen of Rhamnaceae and Prunus. The different types of Quercus pollen are now affiliated with Groups Cerris, Cyclobalanopsis, Ilex and Quercus/Lobatae based on sculpturing elements observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Köppen signatures of potential modern analogues of the fossil Fagales and Rosales suggest a subtropical (Cfa, Cwa) climate at lower elevation and subsequent subtropical to temperate climate with altitudinal succession (Cfa → Cfb/Dfa→ Dfb; Cwa → Cwb → Dwb) in the Lavanttal area during accumulation of the palynoflora. Most of the fossil taxa have potential modern analogues that can be grouped as nemoral and/or merido-nemoral vegetation elements, and the diversity of Fagales indicates a varying landscape with a high variety of niches.
A new fossiliferous horizon from the famous Bletterbach area is described. The new megafossil loc... more A new fossiliferous horizon from the famous Bletterbach area is described. The new megafossil locality of late Permian age yields well-preserved plant megafossils, as well as cuticles and in situ pollen. In the flora representatives of the horsetails, seed ferns (Sphenopteris, Lepidopteris, Peltaspermum), putative cycadophytes (two types of Taeniopteris), ginkgophytes (three different leaf types) and conifers (Ortiseia, Pseudovoltzia, Quadrocladus, Pagiophyllum) were distinguished. Remains of doubtful botanical attribution comprise Dicranophyllum-like leaves and Leptostrobus-type of female fructifications as well as permineralized wood and charcoal. Remains of lycophytes reported from the Bletterbach cannot be confirmed. Some of these groups are recorded for the first time from the Bletterbach.
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