Abstract
The analysis of a taxonomical database containing Italian pollen and macrofossil records of the Messinian - Piacenzian time interval allowed us to evaluate the possible assemblage of different parts within a Whole-Plant Concept. The fossil plant parts that we deemed more significant were: “herbarium-like” specimens, foliage, female and male reproductive organs and stem parts (mainly woody axes). When it has been possible, we recognized these different parts as putative products of a single ancient plant species. Then we operated a random selection of 100 taxonomical entities (potential whole-plant taxa, indicated by the progressive numbers WP001, WP002, etc.) and we analysed their fossil record in order to quantify the proportion of ancient plants represented by one, two or more different parts in the fossil record of the studied area and time slice. Our quantitative analysis showed that 63 % of the potential whole-plant taxa are represented by a single type of plant part, 23 % are represented by two plant parts, and 14 % by three or more different parts. A few taxa were selected as examples to show in detail the implications of applying the Whole-Plant Concept; this involved a taxonomic discussion of Actinidia, Ailanthus, Engelhardia, Eucommia, Glyptostrobus and Taxodium.
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