Acta Palaeobotanica 31(1-2): 153-199, 1991

Fagaceae from Sośnica and Malczyce (near Wrocław, Poland). A revision of original materials by Goeppert 1852 and 1855 and a study of new collections.

Summary: The macrofossils of the family Fagaceae from the Neogene flora of Sośnica and Malczyce, derived from Goeppert's original materials, were subject to a revision. The macrofossils of this family from the abundant post-war collections were also taken into consideration. A morphological analysis of the remains of leaves and fruits and a cuticular analysis of the remains of leaves show that the flora of Sośnica contained leaves of Fagus silesiaca sp. nov., Quercus gigas Goepp. emend. Walther (Menzel) et Zastawniak, cupules of Quercus sapperi (Menzel) Mai ex Hummel and Q. microcerrisaecarpa Kolakovskv and acorns of Quercus sp. div. As a result of the revision of the holotype of Fagus attenuata Goepp. it was found that this leaf belongs to the genus Alnus. Therefore beech leaves from Sośnica were named Fagus silesiaca sp. nov. and characters of their morphology and anatomy were defined. The leaf impressions from Malczyce represent the taxa Quercus gigas and Q. pseudocastanea. The lectotype of Q. pseudocastanea was indicated and the diagnosis widened by the addition of the epidermal structure. The holotype of Q. gigas was indicated and the range of this taxon modified. The species Q. microcerrisaecarpa is new to the Tertiary of Poland.

Keywords: leaves, fruits, Fagaceae, Tertiary