Fossil Flora of Egypt

Abstract

This work summarizes the results of two centuries of laborious investigations of the plant fossil remains in Egypt. As far as possible, emphasis was placed on fossil remains as elements of the biota in the geologic history of Egypt and as indicators of paleoclimate, paleoenvironment and their significance with respect to biostratigraphy and dating. The explored paleoflora of Egypt is very rich and diverse consisted of a mixture of the major plant groups extended from the Devonian to the Quaternary. The discovered fossil plant remains include algae, pteridophytes, gymnosperms, angiosperms (monocots and dicots) and palynomorphs of all groups. Very little is known about fossil fungi in scattered reports. Fossil evidence of bacteria and bryophytes (except their spores) is generally lacking. The Devonian assemblages are dominated by pteridophytes. The macro- and microfloral assemblages in Lower Carboniferous strata are restricted to pteridophytes, while the first gymnosperm plant appeared in the uppermost Carboniferous. Remains of petridophytes and gymnosperms were common in Early Permian. The plant micro- and macrofossils are extremely scarce in Triassic strata, with only few pteridophytes and gymnosperms. Ferns, cycadophytes and petrified woods of arborescent gymnosperms were recorded from Jurassic-Lower Cretaceous strata with microflora dominated by pteridophytic spores. Fossil coniferopsids first appear was in Early Cretaceous along with angiosperms and microalgae; whereas microflora was dominated by gymnospermic pollen. The richest paleoflora in Egypt, both macro- and microfossil, has been recovered from Cretaceous strata. Ferns, gymnosperms and angiosperms are abundantly preserved in most Egyptian middle and Upper Cretaceous plant-bearing sediments. Fossil plants known to be mangrove or mangrove associates are recorded from Upper Cretaceous strata, in addition to a rich flora of calcareous algae. Fossil plants in the Paleogene and Neogene strata have been extensively studied and documented. Fossil fruits were reported from the Paleocene with a few calcareous green and red algae. The Eocene, Oligocene and lower Miocene strata yielded a diverse and large number of fossil plant remains, especially fossil woods. No such petrified woods were reported in the middle Miocene, upper Miocene or Pliocene strata. Calcareous algae are common components in lower Eocene carbonate sediments. The Eocene strata include the mangrove plant beds of Wadi Hitan, which is a “Natural World Heritage site” reflecting the importance of its plant and animal remains. The Oligocene strata likewise include two very important and renowned fossiliferous sites, viz. Cairo Petrified Forest at Qattamiya (a protected area) and Gebel Qatrani in north Fayum. The latter yielded a diverse and large number of fossil plants particularly fossil wood, leaves, fruits, seeds, a few fungi, macroalgae, besides the first evidence for the occurrence of fossil Trachycarpeae (Palmae) in Africa. Records of palynomorphs of bryophytes, pteridophytes and spermatophytes as well as macroremains of angiosperms were reported from the Quaternary. Paleoclimatic inferences are given. Representatives of some micro- and macrofossil types are illustrated and a map showing some of the main fossiliferous sites in Egypt is provided.