This is an overview of the paleoflora of the Eocene Messel Formation as explored by the Messel Pit excavations in Germany. A former quarry and UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Messel Formation preserves what once were a series of lakes surrounded by sub-tropical rainforest during the Middle Eocene, approximately 47 Ma.[1]
Several major monographs on the paleoflora have been published since the early 1900s, with Hermann Engelhardt producing the first leaf monograph in 1922,[2] followed by Heidemarie Thiele-Pfeiffer in 1988[3][4] who provided the first in-depth palynological revision and expansion. Most recently Margaret Collinson, Steven Manchester, and Volker Wilde collaborated to study and redescribe the flowers, fruits, seeds, and other reproductive organs of the formation, with the monograph being published in 2011.[5]
Dinoflagellates
Only a single dinoflagellate taxon has been described formally from the Messel formation. Based on the predominance in layers where heavy nearshore runoff or slippage is present, its suggested Messelodinium thielepfeifferae was likely an inhabitant of warm nearshore waters in the adult stage or wind and wave action resulted in large accumulation of the cysts. M. thielepfeifferae populations are most prevalent in the older layers of the lake, when it was suggested to be holomictic and become absent in the youngest layers when green algae become dominant with the lake shifting to meromictic conditions and the water chemistry changed.[6]
Family | Genus | Species | Authority | Notes | Image |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
†Messelodinium |
†Messelodinium thielepfeifferae[6] |
Lenz et al., 2007 |
|||
Charophyta
Olaf Lenz et al (2011) briefly noted the presence of the Zygnemataceae fossil genus Ovoidites, but only gave general population densities with no enumeration on species information.[7]
Family | Genus | Species | Authority | Notes | Image |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
†Ovoidites |
Undescribed[7] |
A minor Charophyte green algae component of the Messel Formation. |
|||
Chlorophyta
Several chlorophyte green algae are identified from the Messel Formation, with the greatest concentrations being found in the youngest layers. In the older layers Tetraedron minimum is a distinct component of the yearly varves in the lake, with large blooms occurring to form the lighter summer portions of the varve couplets.[7] In the younger layers, Botryococcus species become the most prolific, having taken over as a major phytoplankton taxon from T. minimum and the dinoflagellate Messelodinium thielepfeifferae.[8][6]
Family | Genus | Species | Authority | Notes | Image |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Kützing |
|||||
Tetraedron minimum[7] |
(A. Braun) Hansgirg |
A chlorophyte green algae |
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Pteridophytes
Family | Genus | Species | Authority | Notes | Image |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Asplenium sp.[2] |
Fern pinnuels attributed to Asplenium |
||||
Conifers
Family | Genus | Species | Authority | Notes | Image |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Doliostrobaceae |
†Doliostrobus |
†Doliostrobus taxiformis[5] |
(Sternberg) Z. Kvaček emend. Kunzmann |
A conifer of possible cupressaceous affinities |
|
†Podozamites eocaenica[2] |
Engelhardt |
Possible podocarpaceous foliage |
|||
†Cephalotaxus messelensis[9] |
Wilde |
A plum yew species |
|||
Basal angiosperms
Nymphaeales
Family | Genus | Species | Authority | Notes | Image |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
†Nuphaea |
†Nuphaea engelhardtii[10] |
Gee & Taylor, 2018 |
A transitional nymphaealean water lily genus |
||
Incertae sedis |
Incertae sedis |
Incertae sedis[5] |
Seeds of possible nymphaealean affinity |
Magnoliids
Laurales
Family | Genus | Species | Authority | Notes | Image |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lauraceae |
†Laurocarpum |
†Laurocarpum sp.[5] |
Seeds of lauraceous affinity |
||
†Laurophyllum |
†Laurophyllum lanigeroides[11] |
(Engelhardt) Wilde |
A lauraceous leaf morphotaxon |
||
incertae sedis |
incertae sedis[5] |
Seeds of lauraceous affinity |
|||
Magnoliales
Family | Genus | Species | Authority | Notes | Image |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Magnoliaceae | Magnolia |
Magnolia sp.[5] |
A Magnolia species fruit |
||
Magnolia sp.[5] |
Magnolia species seeds |
||||
†Myristicacarpum |
Myristicacarpum sp.[5] |
A Myristicacarpum species seed |
|||
Monocots
Alismatales
Family | Genus | Species | Authority | Notes | Image |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Araceae | †Araciphyllites |
†Araciphyllites tertiarius[12] |
(Engelhardt) Wilde, Z. Kvaček & Bogner, 2005 |
An araceous leaf |
|
†Araciphyllites schaarschmidtii[12] |
Wilde, Z. Kvaček & Bogner, 2005 |
An araceous leaf |
|||
†Caladiosoma |
†Caladiosoma messelense[12] |
Wilde, Z. Kvaček & Bogner, 2005 |
An araceous leaf |
||
Arecales
Family | Genus | Species | Authority | Notes | Image |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Arecaceae |
Arecocaryon |
(Collinson, Manchester, & Wilde) Doweld |
Palm species fruits |
||
†Calamopsis |
A Palm leaf |
||||
Incertae sedis |
incertae sedis[5] |
Pinnate palm leaves of possible lepidocaryoid tribal affinity. |
|||
incertae sedis[5] |
Palmate palm leaves of uncertain tribal affinity. |
||||
Liliales
Family | Genus | Species | Authority | Notes | Image |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Smilacaceae | Smilax |
†Smilax grandifolia[2] |
Unger |
A greenbrier |
|
†Smilax lingulata[2] |
Heer |
A greenbrier |
|||
†Smilax ovata[2] |
Wess. |
A greenbrier |
|||
†Smilax reticulata[2] |
Heer |
A greenbrier |
|||
Pandanales
Family | Genus | Species | Authority | Notes | Image |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
S. Y. Smith, Collinson & Rudall, 2008 |
A Cyclanthus species |
||||
Poales
Family | Genus | Species | Authority | Notes | Image |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
†Volkeria |
Smith et al., 2009 |
A mapanioid sedge |
|||
†Phragmites oeningensis[2] |
A.Braun ex Heer |
A grass foliage |
|||
Basal eudicots
Proteales
Family | Genus | Species | Authority | Notes | Image |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Meliosma sp.[5] |
A Meliosma species seed |
||||
Ranunculales
Family | Genus | Species | Authority | Notes | Image |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Menispermaceae |
†Cocculus lottii[5] |
Collinson, Manchester, & Wilde, 2012 |
A Cocculus species endocarp |
||
†Diploclisia rugulosa[5] |
Collinson, Manchester, & Wilde, 2012 |
A Diploclisia species seed |
|||
†Karinschmidtia |
†Karinschmidtia rotulae[5] |
Collinson, Manchester, & Wilde, 2012 |
A menispermaceous endocarp |
||
†Martinmuellera |
†Martinmuellera tuberculata[5] |
Collinson, Manchester, & Wilde, 2012 |
A menispermaceous genus seed |
||
†Palaeosinomenium |
†Palaeosinomenium ornamentum[5] |
Collinson, Manchester, & Wilde, 2012 |
A menispermaceous endocarp |
||
†Palaeosinomenium venablesii[5] |
Chandler, 1961 |
A menispermaceous endocarp |
|||
†Palaeosinomenium sp.[5] |
A menispermaceous endocarp |
||||
A menispermaceous endocarp |
|||||
?Pericampylus sp.[5] |
A tentative Pericampylus species endocarp. |
||||
†Stephania hootae[5] |
Collinson, Manchester, & Wilde, 2012 |
A Stephania species seed |
|||
†Tinomiscoidea |
†Tinomiscoidea jacquesii[5] |
Collinson, Manchester, & Wilde, 2012 |
A menispermaceous endocarp |
||
†Wardensheppeya |
†Wardensheppeya sp.[5] |
A menispermaceous endocarp |
|||
incertae sedis |
incertae sedis[5] |
menispermaceous endocarp of Tinosporeae subfamily affinity |
|||
Superasterids
Campanulids
Family | Genus | Species | Authority | Notes | Image |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Toricellia |
†Toricellia bonesii[5] |
(Manchester) Manchester |
A Toricellia species. |
||
Cornales
Family | Genus | Species | Authority | Notes | Image |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Alangium sp.[5] |
An Alangium species likely belonging to Alangium sect. Marlea. |
||||
†Cornus orbifera[16] |
Heer |
A dogwood species |
|||
Nyssaceae |
Cf. †Beckettia |
incertae sedis[5] |
A germination valve similar to Beckettia |
||
†Eomastixia |
An endocarp similar to Eomastixia rugosa |
||||
incertae sedis[5] |
A possible Mastixia endocarp and mesocarp |
||||
†Mastixiopsis |
†Mastixiopsis nyssoides[5] |
Kirchheimer |
A nyssaceous endocarp |
||
Nyssa |
†Nyssa disseminata[5] |
(R. Ludw.) Kirchheimer |
A nyssaceous endocarp with germination valve |
||
†Nyssa europaea[16] |
Unger |
A nyssaceous species |
|||
†Nyssa ornithobroma[16] |
Unger |
A nyssaceous species |
|||
Ericales
Family | Genus | Species | Authority | Notes | Image |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
incertae sedis[5] |
A Cleyera species. |
||||
†Symplocos minutula[17] |
(Sternberg) Kirchheimer |
A Symplocos species fruit. |
|||
†Camelliacarpoidea |
†Camelliacarpoidea messelensis[5] |
Collinson, Manchester, & Wilde |
A theaceous species. |
||
Lamiids
Family | Genus | Species | Authority | Notes | Image |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
†Cypselites |
incertae sedis[5] |
A Cypselites species |
|||
†Darmstadtia |
Darmstadtia biseriata[5] |
A catalpa species. |
|||
Icacinaceae | †Palaeohosiea |
†Palaeohosiea bilinica[5] |
(Ettingshausen) Kvaček & Bůžek |
A phytocrenaceous species. |
|
incertae sedis[5] |
A Palaeohosiea endocarp. |
||||
incertae sedis[5] |
Collinson, Manchester, & Wilde |
A Cleyera species. |
|||
†Icacinicarya |
Icacinicarya densipunctata[5] |
Collinson, Manchester, & Wilde |
An icacinaceous species. |
||
Icacinicarya tiffneyi[5] |
Collinson, Manchester, & Wilde |
An icacinaceous species. |
|||
incertae sedis[5] |
An Icacinicarya endocarp. |
||||
incertae sedis[5] |
An endocarp similar to Natsiatum. |
||||
†Palaeophytocrene |
incertae sedis[5] |
A Palaeophytocrene endocarp. |
|||
†Phytocrene punctilinearis[5] |
Collinson, Manchester, & Wilde |
A Phytocrene species. |
|||
Pyrenacantha |
"Species 1"[5] |
Collinson, Manchester, & Wilde |
An unnamed Pyrenacantha species. |
||
"Species 2"[5] |
Collinson, Manchester, & Wilde |
An unnamed Pyrenacantha species. |
|||
incertae sedis[5] |
Collinson, Manchester, & Wilde |
An endocarp similar to Pyrenacantha. |
|||
Superrosids
Fabids
Family | Genus | Species | Authority | Notes | Image |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
A hemp relative fruit. |
|||||
Celastraceae | Celastrus |
†Celastrus elaenus[18] |
Unger |
A Celastrus species. |
|
†Celastrus friedrichi[18] |
Wonnacott |
A Celastrus species. |
|||
†Celastrus illicinoides[18] |
Engelhardt |
A Celastrus species. |
|||
†Celastrus oxyphyllus[18] |
Unger |
A Celastrus species. |
|||
Elaeodendron |
†Elaeodendron degener[18] |
(Unger) Ettingshausen |
An Elaeodendron species. |
||
†Elaeodendron dryadum[18] |
Ettingshausen |
An Elaeodendron species. |
|||
†Elaeodendron obovatifolium[18] |
Engelhardt |
An Elaeodendron species. |
|||
†Euonymus heerii[18] |
Ettingshausen |
An Euonymus species. |
|||
†Sloanea messelensis[5] |
Collinson, Manchester, & Wilde |
A Sloanea species fruit. |
|||
†Euphorbiotheca |
†Euphorbiotheca gothii[5] |
Collinson, Manchester, & Wilde |
Trilocular euphorb fruits. |
||
Fabaceae |
†Mimosites |
†Mimosites spiegeli[5] |
Engelhardt |
A caesalpinioid legume species pod. |
|
†Leguminocarpon |
†Leguminocarpon herendeenii[5] |
Collinson, Manchester, & Wilde |
A legume species pod. |
||
†Leguminocarpon sp.[5] |
Legume species pods. |
||||
Juglandaceae |
†Cruciptera |
†Cruciptera schaarschmidtii[5] |
Manchester, Collinson, & Goth |
A juglandaceous winged fruit. |
|
†Hooleya |
†Hooleya sp.[5] |
A juglandaceous fruiting raceme. |
|||
†Palaeocarya |
†Palaeocarya sp.[5] |
A juglandaceous fruit. |
|||
†Berchemia mellerae[5] |
Collinson, Manchester, & Wilde |
||||
†Prunus pereger[19] |
Unger |
A cherry relative |
|||
†Cedrelospermum |
†Cedrelospermum leptospermum[5] |
(Ettingshausen) Manchester emend. Wilde & Manchester |
An ulmaceous elm relative fruit. |
||
Malvids
Family | Genus | Species | Authority | Notes | Image |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Anacardiaceae |
†Anacardium germanicum[5] |
Manchester, Wilde & Collinson |
A cashew species. |
||
†Lannea hessenensis[5] |
Collinson, Manchester, & Wilde |
A Lannea species. |
|||
†Mangifera tertiaria[20] |
Ettingshausen |
A mango relative. |
|||
†Pentoperculum |
†Pentoperculum minimus[5] |
(Reid & Chandler) Manchester |
A spondiadeous cashew relative. |
||
†Pleiogynium mitchellii[5] |
(Reid & Chandler) Manchester |
A Pleiogynium species. |
|||
Rhus |
†Rhus meriani[20] |
Heer |
A sumac relative. |
||
†Rhus saportana[20] |
Pilar |
A sumac relative. |
|||
†Rhus ternata[20] |
Engelhardt |
A sumac relative. |
|||
†Tapiscia pusilla[5] |
(Reid & Chandler) Mai |
A Tapiscia species fruit. |
|||
Burseraceae |
†Bursericarpum |
†Bursericarpum species[5] |
A Bursericarpum species endocarp. |
||
Canarium sp.[5] |
A Canarium species endocarp. |
||||
Malvaceae | †Byttneriopsis |
†Byttneriopsis daphnogenes[21] |
(Ettingshausen) Kvaček & Wilde |
A malvaceous leaf morphotaxon |
|
†Byttneriopsis spiegelii[21] |
(Ettingshausen) Kvaček & Wilde |
A malvaceous leaf morphotaxon |
|||
†Byttneriopsis steuerii[21] |
Kvaček & Wilde |
A malvaceous leaf morphotaxon |
|||
Rutaceae |
†Rutaspermum |
†Rutaspermum chandleri[5] |
Collinson & Gregor |
A citrus family seed. |
|
†Toddalia ovata[22] |
Wilde |
A Toddalia leaf morphospecies |
|||
incertae sedis[5] |
A Seed similar to Toddalia. |
||||
Sapindaceae |
†Dodonaea salicites[23] |
Ettingshausen |
A Dodonaea species |
||
Sapindus |
†Sapindus cupanioides[23] |
Ettingshausen |
A Sapindus species |
||
†Sapindus dubius[23] |
Unger |
A Sapindus species |
|||
†Sapindus firmifolius[23] |
Engelhardt |
A Sapindus species |
|||
†Sapindus heliconius[23] |
Unger |
A Sapindus species |
|||
†Thouinia occidentalis[23] |
Engelhardt |
A Thouinia species |
|||
†Ailanthus confucii[5] |
Unger |
An Ailanthus seed. |
|||
Myrtales
Family | Genus | Species | Authority | Notes | Image |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Incertae sedis[5] |
Seeds of similar morphology to Decodon[5] Not identified to species |
||||
Saxifragales
Family | Genus | Species | Authority | Notes | Image |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
†Steinhauera subglobosa[5] |
Presl emend Mai, 1968 |
A sweet gum species. |
|||
Hamamelidaceae |
†Mytilaria boglei[5] |
Collinson, Manchester, & Wilde |
A Mytilaria species infructecence. |
||
Corylopsis |
†Corylopsis maii[5] |
Collinson, Manchester, & Wilde, 2012 |
A winter hazel species infructecence. |
||
†Corylopsis waltheri[5] |
Collinson, Manchester, & Wilde, 2012 |
Isolated winter hazel species seeds. |
|||
Vitaceae
Family | Genus | Species | Authority | Notes | Image |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Vitaceae |
Ampelopsis sp.[5] |
A peppervine species seed. |
|||
†Cayratia jungii[5] |
(Gregor) Chen & Manchester |
A Cayratia species seed. |
|||
†Crassivitisemen |
†Crassivitisemen wildei[5] |
(Chen & Manchester) Collinson, Manchester, & Wilde |
Vitaceous species fruits and seeds. |
||
†Palaeovitis |
†Palaeovitis sp.[5] |
A vitaceous species seed. |
|||
†Parthenocissus britannica[5] |
(Heer) Chandler, 1957 |
Virginia creeper species fruits and seeds. |
|||
†Vitis messelensis[5] |
Collinson, Manchester, & Wilde, 2012 |
Grape species fruits and seeds. |
|||
Incertae sedis
Carpolitus is a plant morphogenus circumscribed for fossil fruits and seeds that are distinct but not identifiable to defined taxa. Collinson, Manchester, & Wilde (2012) described but did not name 63 distinct Carpolithus morphotypes from the Messel Formation.
Genus | Species | Authority | Notes | Image |
---|---|---|---|---|
†Carpolithus |
†Carpolithus anacardiaceus[20] |
Engelhardt |
Doubtfully referred to Anacardiaceae per Edwards & Wonnacott (1935) |
|
†Carpolithus callosaeoides[5] |
(Engelhardt) |
A Carpolithus species with thick woody tissues |
||
†Carpolithus drupaceus[19] |
Engelhardt |
A fruit of possible rosaceous affinity |
||
†Carpolithus euphoriaeoides[23] |
Engelhardt |
A Carpolithus species fruit |
||
†Carpolithus sapindiformis[23] |
Engelhardt |
A Carpolithus species fruit |
||
†Carpolithus sapindoides[23] |
Engelhardt |
A Carpolithus species fruit |
||
Species 1–62[5] |
various distinct morphotypes |
|||
incertae sedis[24] |
A Lagokarpos species winged fruit |
|||
†Saportaspermum |
A Saportaspermum species winged seed |
|||
†Spirellea |
†incertae sedis[5] |
A Spirellea species seed |
||
Pollen and spores
The first foray into Messel palynology was produced by H. D. Pflug (1952)[25] with follow-up papers in 1957[26] and coauthored with P. Thomas in 1953.[27] The pollen and spore record was revised and expanded by Heidemarie Thiele-Pfeiffer (1988)[4] who provided the largest in depth palynological work focusing exclusively on the Messel Formation.
Pteridophyte spores
Family | Genus | Species | Authority | Notes | Image |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
†Baculatisporites |
†Baculatisporites primarius[3] |
(Wolff) Thomson & Pflug |
A royal fern palynospecies |
||
Polypodiaceae | †Polypodiaceoisporites |
†Polypodiaceoisporites gracillimus[3] |
Nagy |
Fern spores polypodiaceous affinity |
|
†Polypodiaceoisporites lusaticus[3] |
Krutzsch |
Fern spores polypodiaceous affinity |
|||
Schizaeaceae | †Cicatricosisporites |
†Cicatricosisporites dorogensis[3] |
Potonié & Gelletich |
A schizaeaceous fern palynospecies |
|
†Cicatricosisporites paradorogensis[3] |
Krutzsch |
A schizaeaceous fern palynospecies |
|||
†Microfoveolatosporis |
†Microfoveolatosporis granuloides[3] |
(Krutzsch) Krutzsch |
A schizaeaceous fern palynospecies |
||
†Ischyosporites |
†Ischyosporites tertiarius[3] |
Krutzsch |
A palynospecies of possible schizaeaceous fern affinity |
||
incertae sedis | †Laevigatosporites |
†Laevigatosporites discordatus[3] |
Pflug |
A palynospecies of possible Schizaeaceae or Polypodiaceae S. L. affinity |
|
†Laevigatosporites haardtii[3] |
(Potonié & Venitz) Thomson & Pflug |
A palynospecies of possible Schizaeaceae or Polypodiaceae S. L. affinity |
|||
†Leiotriletes |
Kedves |
Fern spores of Schizaeaceae or Polypodiaceae S. L. affinity |
|||
Krutzsch |
Fern spores of Schizaeaceae or Polypodiaceae S. L. affinity |
||||
Krutzsch |
Fern spores of Schizaeaceae or Polypodiaceae S. L. affinity |
||||
Murriger & Pflug |
Fern spores of Schizaeaceae or Polypodiaceae S. L. affinity |
||||
Fern spores of Schizaeaceae and Polypodiaceae S. L. affinity |
|||||
Lycophyte spores
Family | Genus | Species | Authority | Notes | Image |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
†Echinatisporis |
†Echinatisporis hungaricus[3] |
Kedves |
A spikemoss palynospecies |
||
Conifer pollens
Family | Genus | Species | Authority | Notes | Image |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cupressaceae |
†Cupressacites |
†Cupressacites insulipapillatus[3] |
(Trevisan) Krutzsch |
A taxodioid cypress family palynospecies |
|
†Inaperturopollenites |
†Inaperturopollenites concedipites[3] |
(Wodehouse) Krutzsch |
A taxodioid cypress family palynospecies |
||
†Inaperturopollenites verrupapillatus[3] |
Trevisan |
A taxodioid cypress family palynospecies |
|||
Pinaceae | †Pityosporites |
(Potonié) Thomson & Pflug |
A pine family palynomorph. |
||
†Pityosporites microalatus[3] |
(Potonié) Thomson Pflug |
A pine family palynomorph. |
|||
Basal angiosperm pollens
Family | Genus | Species | Authority | Notes | Image |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
†Monocolpopollenites |
†Monocolpopollenites crassiexinus[3] |
Thiele-Pfeiffer |
A waterlily family palynospecies |
||
Chloranthalean pollens
Family | Genus | Species | Authority | Notes | Image |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
†Emmapollis |
†Emmapollis pseudoemmaensis[3] |
Thiele-Pfeiffer |
A chloranthaceous palynomorph |
||
Magnoliid pollens
Family | Genus | Species | Authority | Notes | Image |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
†Magnolipollis |
†Magnolipollis magnolioides[3] |
Krutzsch |
A magnolia family palynospecies |
||
Monocot pollens
Alismatalean pollens
Family | Genus | Species | Authority | Notes | Image |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
†Punctilongisulcites |
Thiele-Pfeiffer |
A frogbit palynomorph |
|||
Arecalean pollens
Family | Genus | Species | Authority | Notes | Image |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
†Monocolpopollenites |
†Monocolpopollenites tranquillus[3] |
(Potonié) Thomson & Pflug |
A palm family palynospecies |
||
Commelinid pollens
Family | Genus | Species | Authority | Notes | Image |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cyperaceae | †Cyperaceaepollis |
†Cyperaceaepollis germanicus[3] |
Krutzsch |
A sedge family palynospecies |
|
Unnamed[3] |
Krutzsch |
A sedge family palynomorph |
|||
Restionaceae | †Milfordia |
†Milfordia incerta |
(Thomson & Pflug) Krutzsch |
A restiad family palynospecies |
|
†Milfordia minima |
Krutzsch |
A restiad family palynospecies |
|||
Superasterid pollens
Campanulid pollens
Family | Genus | Species | Authority | Notes | Image |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Aquifoliaceae | †Ilexpollenites |
†Ilexpollenites iliacus[3] |
(Potonié) Thiergart |
A holly family pollen |
|
†Ilexpollenites margaritatus[3] |
(Potonié) Thiergart |
A holly family pollen |
|||
†Ilexpollenites propinquus[3] |
(Potonié) Potonié |
A holly family pollen |
|||
Araliaceae | †Araliaceoipollenites |
†Araliaceoipollenites euphori[3] |
(Potonié) Potonié |
An araliaceous pollen |
|
†Araliaceoipollenites reticuloides[3] |
Thiele-Pfeiffer |
An araliaceous pollen |
|||
Cornalean pollens
Family | Genus | Species | Authority | Notes | Image |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
†Nyssapollenites |
†Nyssapollenites kruschii[3] |
Potonié |
A nyssaceous palyspecies. |
||
Ericalean pollens
Family | Genus | Species | Authority | Notes | Image |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ericaceae | †Ericipites |
†Ericipites callidus[7] |
(Potonié) Krutzsch |
A heather/heath family palynomorph |
|
†Ericipites ericius[7] |
(Potonié) Potonié |
A heather/heath family palynomorph |
|||
†Porocolpopollenites |
†Porocolpopollenites rarobaculatus[3] |
Thiele-Pfeiffer |
A sweetleaf family palynospecies. |
||
Lamiid pollens
Family | Genus | Species | Authority | Notes | Image |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
†Compositoipollenites |
†Compositoipollenites rhizophorus[3] |
(Potonié) Potonié |
|||
Santalalean pollens
Family | Genus | Species | Authority | Notes | Image |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Olacaceae |
†Anacolosidites |
†Anacolosidites efflatus[3] |
(Potonié) Erdtman |
An anacoloseous palynospecies |
|
†Olaxipollis |
An olacaceous palynomorph |
||||
Superrosid pollens
Fabid pollens
Family | Genus | Species | Authority | Notes | Image |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
†Polyvestibulopollenites |
†Polyvestibulopollenites verus[3] |
(Potonié) Thomson & Pflug |
A betulaceous palyonospecies |
||
Cannabaceae | †Celtipollenites |
†Celtipollenites intrastructurus[3] |
(Krutzsch & Vanhoorne) Thiele-Pfeiffer |
A hemp family palynospecies |
|
†Celtipollenites laevigatus[3] |
Thiele-Pfeiffer |
A hemp family palynospecies |
|||
Juglandaceae | †Caryapollenites |
†Caryapollenites circulus[3] |
(Pflug) Krutzsch |
A Walnut family palynospecies |
|
A Walnut family palynospecies |
|||||
†Labraferoidaepollenites |
Kedves |
A Walnut family palynospecies |
|||
†Momipites |
†Momipites punctatus[3] |
(Potonié) Nagy |
A Walnut family palynospecies |
||
†Momipites quietus[3] |
(Potonié) Nichols |
A Walnut family palynospecies |
|||
†Nudopollis |
†Nudopollis terminalis[3] |
(Thomson & Pflug) Pflug |
A Walnut family palynospecies |
||
†Platycaryapollenites |
†Platycaryapollenites miocaenicus[3] |
Nagy |
A Walnut family palynospecies |
||
†Platycaryapollenites platycaryoides[3] |
(Roche) Kedves |
A Walnut family palynospecies |
|||
†Platycaryapollenites semicyclus[3] |
(Krutzsch & Vanhoorne) Thiele-Pfeiffer |
A Walnut family palynospecies |
|||
†Platycaryapollenites sp.[7] |
A Walnut family palynospecies |
||||
†Plicatopollis |
†Plicatopollis hungaricus[3] |
Kedves |
A Walnut family palynospecies |
||
†Plicatopollis plicatus[3] |
(Potonié) Krutzsch |
A Walnut family palynospecies |
|||
†Plicatopollis pseudoexcelsus[3] |
Krutzsch |
A Walnut family palynospecies |
|||
†Plicatopollis Sp.[3] |
A Walnut family palynospecies |
||||
†Pterocaryapollenites |
†Pterocaryapollenites stellatus[3] |
(Potonié) Thiergart |
A Walnut family palynospecies |
||
†Plicatopollis |
†Plicatopollis lunatus[3] |
Kedves |
A palynospecies of possible juglandaceous affinity |
||
Ulmaceae | †Polyporopollenites |
†Polyporopollenites eoulmoides[3] |
Krutzsch & Vanhoorne |
An elm family palynospecies |
|
†Polyporopollenites undulosus[3] |
(Wolf) Thomson & Pflug |
An elm family palynospecies |
|||
†Polyporopollenites verrucatus[3] |
(Wolf) Thomson & Pflug |
An elm family palynospecies |
|||
Malvid pollens
Family | Genus | Species | Authority | Notes | Image |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Malvaceae | †Bombacacidites |
†Bombacacidites tilioides[3] |
Krutzsch |
||
†Bombacacidites Sp.1[3] |
A bombacoid palynomorph |
||||
†Bombacacidites Sp.2[3] |
A bombacoid palyonomorph |
||||
†Intratriporopollenites |
†Intratriporopollenites minimus[3] |
Mai |
A tilioid palynospecies |
||
A tilioid palynomorph |
|||||
†Pseudospinaepollis |
†Pseudospinaepollis pseudospinosus[3] |
Krutzsch |
A thymelaeaceous palynospecies |
||
Myrtalean pollens
Family | Genus | Species | Authority | Notes | Image |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lythraceae | †Lythraceaepollenites |
†Lythraceaepollenites minimus[3] |
Thiele-Pfeiffer |
A myrtle family palynospecies |
|
†Lythraceaepollenites sp.[3] |
A myrtle family palynospecies |
||||
Incertae sedis pollens
Genus | Species | Authority | Notes | Image |
---|---|---|---|---|
†Brosipollis |
†Brosipollis striatobrosus[3] |
(Krutzsch) Krutzsch |
Possible affinity is to Gomphandra (Icacinaceae) or Burseraceae |
|
†Compositoipollenites |
†Compositoipollenites minimus[3] |
(Krutzsch & Vanhoorne) |
A palynomorph species of uncertain affiliation. |
|
†Labrapollis |
†Labrapollis labraferus[3] |
(Potonié) Krutzsch |
A palynomorph species of uncertain affiliation. |
|
†Multiporopollenites |
†Multiporopollenites microreticulatus[3] |
Krutzsch |
A palynomorph species of uncertain affiliation. |
|
†Multiporopollenites Sp.1[3] |
A palynomorph species of uncertain affiliation. |
|||
†Multiporopollenites Sp.2[3] |
A palynomorph species of uncertain affiliation. |
|||
†Pentapollenites |
†Pentapollenites pentangulus[3] |
(Pflug) Krutzsch |
A palynomorph species of uncertain affiliation. |
|
†Pentapollenites punctoides[3] |
Krutzsch |
A palynomorph species of uncertain affiliation. |
||
†Pentapollenites Sp.1[3] |
A palynomorph species of uncertain affiliation. |
|||
†Pentapollenites Sp.2[3] |
A palynomorph species of uncertain affiliation. |
|||
†Pollenites |
†Pollenites setarius[3] |
Potonié |
A palynomorph species of uncertain affiliation. |
|
†Pompeckjoidaepollenites |
†Pompeckjoidaepollenites subhercynicus[3] |
(Krutzsch) Krutzsch |
A palynomorph species of uncertain affiliation. |
|
†Tricolporopollenites |
†Tricolporopollenites messelensis[7] |
Thiele-Pfeiffer |
A palynomorph with suggested affinity to Oleaceae or Rutaceae |
|
†Tricolporopollenites solé de portai[7] |
Thiele-Pfeiffer |
A palynomorph with suggested affinity to Rosaceae |
||
References
- ↑ Mertz, D.; Renne, P. (2005). "A numerical age for the Messel fossil deposit (UNESCO World Heritage Site) derived from 40Ar/39Ar dating on a basaltic rock fragment". Courier Forschungsinstitut Senckenberg. 255: 7–75.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Engelhardt, H. (1922). "Die alttertiäre Flora von Messel bei Darmstadt". Abhandlungen der Hessischen Geologischen Landesanstalt zu Darmstadt. 7 (4): 20–128.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 Thiele-Pfeiffer, H. (1988). "The microflora from the Middle Eocene oil shale of Messel near Darmstadt West Germany". Palaeontographica Abteilung B. 211: 1–86.
- 1 2 White, J M. "Thiele-Pfeiffer,H". Palynodata. Palynodata Inc. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 Collinson, M.; Manchester, S.; Wilde, V. (2012). "Fossil fruits and seeds of the Middle Eocene Messel biota, Germany". Abhandlungen der Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung. 570: 1–249. ISBN 978-3-510-61400-4.
- 1 2 3 Lenz ., O.; Wilde, V.; Riegel, W.; Heinrichs, T. (2007). "Distribution and paleoecologic significance of the freshwater dinoflagellate cyst Messelodinium thielepfeifferae gen. et sp. nov from the Middle Eocene of Lake Messel, Germany". Palynology. 31 (1): 119–134. doi:10.2113/gspalynol.31.1.119.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Lenz, O.; Wilde, V.; Riegel, W. (2011). "Short-term fluctuations in vegetation and phytoplankton during the Middle Eocene greenhouse climate: a 640-kyr record from the Messel oil shale (Germany)". International Journal of Earth Sciences. 100 (8): 1851–1874. Bibcode:2011IJEaS.100.1851L. doi:10.1007/s00531-010-0609-z. S2CID 52968593.
- 1 2 Adam, P.; Schaeffer, P.; Albrecht, P. (2006). "C40 monoaromatic lycopane derivatives as indicators of the contribution of the alga Botryococcus braunii race L to the organic matter of Messel oil shale (Eocene, Germany)". Organic Geochemistry. 37 (5): 584–596. doi:10.1016/j.orggeochem.2006.01.001.
- ↑ Dijkstra, S.; van Amerom, H.; Schultze-Motel, J. (2002). "Pars 105. Gymnospermae (6) Ginkgophyta et Coniferae.". In van Amerom, H. (ed.). Fossilium Catalogus. II. Plantae. Leiden, Netherlands: Backhuys Publishers.
- ↑ Gee, C.; Taylor, D. (2019). "An Extinct Transitional Leaf Genus of Nymphaeaceae from the Eocene Lake at Messel, Germany: Nuphaea engelhardtii Gee et David W. Taylor gen. et sp. nov". International Journal of Plant Sciences. 180 (7): 724–736. doi:10.1086/704376. S2CID 201211546.
- ↑ Wappler, T.; Tokuda, M.; Yukawa, J.; Wilde, V. (2010). "Insect herbivores on Laurophyllum lanigeroides (Engelhardt 1922) Wilde: the role of a distinct plant-insect associational suite in host taxonomic assignment". Palaeontographica,Palaeontographica,Abt.B:Palaeobotany–Palaeophytology. 283 (4–6): 137–155.
- 1 2 3 Wilde, V.; Kvaček, Z.; Bogner, J. (2005). "Fossil leaves of the Araceae from the European Eocene and notes on other aroid fossils". International Journal of Plant Sciences. 166 (1): 157–183. doi:10.1086/425673. S2CID 85215526.
- ↑ Doweld, A. B. (2021). "Fossil Alloceltidoxylon, Allonymphaea, Arecocaryon, Paralnoxylon and Paranyssa and extant Komaroviopsis, Marcanodendron, and Papyrocactus (Magnoliophyta), new replacement generic names". Phytotaxa. 524 (2): 92–98. doi:10.11646/phytotaxa.524.2.3. S2CID 243482734.
- ↑ Smith, S.; Collinson, M.; Rudall, P. (2008). "Fossil Cyclanthus (Cyclanthaceae, Pandanales) from the Eocene of Germany and England". American Journal of Botany. 95 (6): 688–699. doi:10.3732/ajb.2007390. PMID 21632394.
- ↑ Smith, S.; Collinson, M.; Simpson, D.; Rudall, P.; Marone, F.; Stampanoni, M. (2009). "Elucidating the affinities and habitat of ancient, widespread Cyperaceae: Volkeria messelensis gen. et sp. nov., a fossil mapanioid sedge from the Eocene of Europe" (PDF). American Journal of Botany. 96 (8): 1506–1518. doi:10.3732/ajb.0800427. PMID 21628296.
- 1 2 3 Kirchheimer F. (2 July 1938). "Pars 23. Umbellifloraea: Cornaceae". In Jongmans, W. (ed.). Fossilium Catalogus. II. Plantae. Neubrandenburg: Verlag Gustav Feller.
- ↑ Kirchheimer F. (14 July 1950). "Pars 26. Symplocaceae.". In Jongmans, W. (ed.). Fossilium Catalogus. II. Plantae. Verlag Gustav Feller.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Wonnacott, F. (28 September 1955). "Pars 29. Celastraceae.". In Jongmans, W. (ed.). Fossilium Catalogus. II. Plantae. 's-Gravenhague: Uitgeverij Dr. W. Junk.
- 1 2 Kirchheimer, F. (14 July 1942). "Pars 25. Rosaceae.". In Jongmans, W. (ed.). Fossilium Catalogus. II. Plantae. Verlag Gustav Feller.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Edwards, W.; Wonnacott, F. (28 August 1935). "Pars 20. Anacardiaceae.". In Jongmans, W. (ed.). Fossilium Catalogus. II. Plantae. 's-Gravenhague: W. Junk.
- 1 2 3 4 Kvacek, Z.; Wilde, V. (2010). "Foliage and seeds of malvalean plants from the Eocene of Europe". Bulletin of Geosciences. 85 (1): 163–182. doi:10.3140/bull.geosci.1170.
- ↑ Winkler, I.; Labandeira, C.; Wappler, T.; Wilf, P. (2010). "Distinguishing Agromyzidae (Diptera) leaf mines in the fossil record: new taxa from the Paleogene of North America and Germany and their evolutionary implications". Journal of Paleontology. 84 (5): 935–954. doi:10.1666/09-163.1. S2CID 56378236.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Edwards, W.; Wonnacott, F. (14 July 1950). "Pars 14. Sapindaceae.". In Jongmans, W. (ed.). Fossilium Catalogus. II. Plantae. Verlag Gustav Feller.
- ↑ Tang, H.; Liu, J.; Wu, F.-X.; Spicer, T.; Spicer, R.; Deng, W.-Y.-D.; Xu, C.-L.; Zhao, F.; Huang, J.; Li, S.-F.; Su, T.; Zhou, Z.-K. (2019). "Extinct genus Lagokarpos reveals a biogeographic connection between Tibet and other regions in the Northern Hemisphere during the Paleogene". Journal of Systematics and Evolution. 57 (6): 670–677. doi:10.1111/jse.12505.
- ↑ Pflug, H.D. (1952). "Palynologie und Stratigraphie der eozänen Braunkohlen von Helmstedt (Palynology and stratigraphy of the Eocene Brown-Coal of Helmstedt)". Paläontologische Zeitschrift (in German). 26 ((1/2)): 112–137. doi:10.1007/BF03041729. S2CID 140715968.
- ↑ Pflug, H.D. (1957). "Zur Altersfolge und Faziesgliederung mitteleuropäischer (insbesondere hessischer) Braunkohlen (On the age succession and facies correlation of Middle European, (in particular Hessen) Brown Coal.)". Notizbl Hess Landesamt Bodenforsch Wiesbaden (in German). 85: 152–178.
- ↑ Thomson, P.; Pflug, H. (1953). "Pollen und Sporen des mitteleuropäischen Tertiärs (Pollen and spores of the Middle European Tertiary)". Palaeontographica Abteilung B (in German). 94: 1–138.