Combined LM and SEM study of the upper Oligocene/lower Miocene palynoflora from Altmittweida (Saxony): Providing new insights into Cenozoic vegetation evolution of Central Europe

Abstract

The fossil floras from Altmittweida (Saxony, Germany) are of late Oligocene/early Miocene age. Until now, studies have focused on the macrofossil record of this and surrounding sites, but the palynoflora has not previously been documented.The pollen and spore assemblage shows much higher taxon diversity in comparison to the macrofossil record. The palynoflora is composed of at least 57 different angiosperm and three gymnosperm pollen taxa. Additionally, five spore types were identified, four belonging to ferns and one to a moss. Among the observed angiosperm taxa the characteristic morphology (stephanocolpate and echinate) of a particular pollen type provides the first evidence of Cucurbitaceae, subfamily Cucurbitoideae, tribe Cucurbiteae in the Cenozoic of Europe. Moreover, pollen of Olea and Cyclocarya are also reliably identified for the first time in the fossil palyno-record of Central Europe. The taxa described here are mostly representing parts of the lowland vegetation, reflecting riparian and swamp forest environments around lakes and marshes as well as surrounding mesophytic forests.