Acta Peleobotanica (Supplementum 3, 2003)    

The results of a study of macroscopic plant remains (mainly leaves) derived from two different floras (KRAM‑P 211/214 and KRAM‑P 217) in the Bełchatów Lignite Mine are presented. Both fossil floras are characterized by a relatively small floristic diversity. Plant remains (leaves, coniferous shoots, fruits and seeds) from fossil assemblage of KRAM‑P 211/214 (28 taxa) belong to families Osmundaceae, Pinaceae, Taxodiaceae, Cupressaceae, Aceraceae, Betulaceae, Fagaceae, Juglandaceae, Lauraceae, Myricaceae, Nyssaceae, Ulmaceae, Hydrocharitaceae, and Smilacaceae and from fossil assemblage KRAM‑P 217 (28 taxa) to Pinaceae, Taxodiaceae, Aceraceae, Betulaceae, Cyrillaceae, Ebenaceae, Ericaceae, Fagaceae, Hippocastanaceae, Juglandaceae, Loranthaceae, Myricaceae, Malvaceae sensu lato, Poaceae, and Smilacaceae. Among them eight new taxa to the Polish Tertiary were reported. Taxa characteristic of the arctotertiary geoflora dominate, palaeotropical element has a small share. Remains of azonal vegetation prevail in both assemblages; there are mainly swamp forest and riparian forest species. Some of the taxa found indicate the presence of Mixed Mesophytic Forest that represent zonal vegetation. Recent counterparts of the fossil plant taxa occur above all in south‑eastern North America, East Asia, Transcaucasia, and southern Europe. The palaeoclimates corresponding to both fossil floras have been included into the Cfa type in Köppen's classification (moderately warm and humid climate). The flora KRAM‑P 211/214 is of the Early Miocene (Ottnangian‑Karpatian) age and KRAM‑P 217 flora is considered to be the Late Miocene (Pannonian‑Pontian) age.

Key words:

plant megafossils, palaeoecology, palaeoclimate, Miocene, Bełchatów Lignite Mine, Poland

Acta Palaeobotanica Supl. 3: 3-133, 2003