The Early Cretaceous flora from the Wealden facies at Duingen, Germany

Abstract

A middle latitude (c. 40° N) flora from the Lower Cretaceous of Duingen, north-western Germany, has been investigated. The newly collected fossils are preserved as impressions and compressions, some yielding cuticular details. Twenty-one species have been identified. The flora is dominated by ginkgophytes and conifers, whilst other groups such as Nilssoniales and Bennettitales represent minor portions of the vegetation. The bennettitaleans may be among the youngest of this group in Europe and one sphenophyte and a few ferns are also present. Two new species are described (viz. Nilssonia kurwia and Williamsonia joanwatsoniae) and one new combination (viz. Ptilophyllum aequale) is made. The composition of the flora is similar to that of other floras from the German Wealden, but exhibits certain differences from the English Wealden. The Duingen flora is compared to nearby and more remote Early Cretaceous floras of the Northern Hemisphere revealing a general need for revision of the German Wealden to improve correlation with more remote floras. The Duingen fossil flora derives from an established mixed temperate ginkgoalean–conifer forest with bennettites and Nilssoniales as minor, understorey components, most likely restricted to the moister coastal fringes of the forest.