Middle Miocene palynoflora of the Legnica lignite deposit complex ...

R e m a r k s. Pollen grains 45–55 × 40–45 μm
in size, not numerous in the studied material.
Pollen grains of fossil taxon Nyssapollenites
kruschi (and its subspecies) occur in
Europe in the Oligocene to Pliocene deposits,
and represent warm-temperate (A1) element
(Ziembińska-Tworzydło 1996).
(154) Nyssapollenites pseudocruciatus
(Potonié 1931) Thiergart 1937
Pl. 16, fi gs 7a, b, 8
1931a Pollenites pseudocruciatus n. sp., Potonié,
p. 328, pl. 1, fi g. 10.
1937 Nyssapollenites pseudocruciatus (Potonié) n.
comb., Thiergart, p. 322, pl. 25, fi gs 32–34,
pl. 26, fi g. 1.
Pollen grains 27–32 μm in size, resembling
those of Nyssapollenites kruschi. Pores with
very thick edges, surface granulate, somewhat
more delicate than N. analepticus.
R e m a r k s. This taxon represents warm-temperate
(A1) element (Ziembińska-Tworzydło
et al. 1994a). In the studied material these
pollen grains were encountered regularly, but
in low quantities.
Pollen grains of Nyssapollenites morphological
genus are similar to pollen of Nyssa.
They are frequent in the Neogene, though they
are reported also from the Palaeogene (Muller
1981). In the younger Neogene larger forms
prevail (Doktorowicz-Hrebnicka 1954).
Presently the genus Nyssa contains 6 species
of deciduous trees; four of them occur in
the Atlantic zone of North America, whereas
the other two grow in south-eastern Asia
(Krüssmann 1977). Nyssa aquatica L. and N.
sylvatica Marsh are components of swamp forests
(Kearney 1901, Kac 1975, Haynes 2000).
Familia CORNACEAE
Subfamilia CORNOIDEAE
Cornaceaepollis Stuchlik in Ziembińska-
Tworzydło et al. 1994
(155) Cornaceaepollis major (Stuchlik
1964) Stuchlik in Ziembińska-Tworzydło
et al. 1994
Pl. 16, fi g. 13a, b
1964 Cornoidites major n. sp., Stuchlik, p. 62, pl. 19,
fi gs 1–4.
1994b Cornaceaepollis major (Stuchlik) Stuchlik comb.
53
nov.; Ziembińska-Tworzydło et al., p. 22, pl. 13,
fi g. 11a–c.
Pollen grains tricolporate, in equatorial
view broadly oval in outline, 55–60 μm in
size, in polar view triangularly oval in outline.
Colpi rather long, bent in equatorial plain,
nearly meeting each other at the poles. Pores
in the middle of the colpi, set transversally to
them, up to 15 μm in diameter. Exine 4–5 μm
thick. Ectexine thicker than endexine. Surface
granulate.
R e m a r k s. In the analysed material a few
pollen grains of this taxon were found in the
Lusatian seam.
(156) Cornaceaepollis minor (Stuchlik
1964) Stuchlik in Ziembińska-Tworzydło
et al. 1994
Pl. 16, fi g. 11a, b
1964 Cornoidites minor n. sp.; Stuchlik, p. 62, pl. 19,
fi gs 5–7.
1994b Cornaceaepollis minor (Stuchlik) Stuchlik comb.
nov.; Ziembińska-Tworzydło et al., p. 22, pl. 13,
fi gs 12a, b, 13.
Pollen grains resembling in structure abovementioned
ones, but 24–28 μm in size. Exine
about 2 μm thick, surface fi nely granulate.
R e m a r k s. Pollen grains of this taxon were
sporadically encountered in the Lusatian seam
of both Legnica profi les.
Pollen grains of both above-mentioned taxa
(Cornaceaepollis major and C. minor) are
similar to pollen of the recent Cornus L. They
occur in the Oligocene and Miocene deposits
of the Polish Lowland, and represent subtropical
(P2) element (Ziembińska-Tworzydło et al.
1994a, b).
Nowadays the family Cornaceae contains 12
genera extended in tropical to temperate zones
of North America and in temperate Asia. The
genus Cornus (about 40 species) is common
throughout northern temperate zone (Krüssmann
1976).
Subfamilia MASTIXIOIDEAE
(157) Cornaceaepollis satzveyensis (Pfl ug
in Thomson & Pfl ug 1953) Ziembińska-
Tworzydło in Ziembińska-Tworzydło et al. 1994
Pl. 16, fi g. 9a, b
1953 Tricolporopollenites satzveyensis n. sp. (Pfl ug);
Thomson & Pfl ug, p. 103, pl. 13, fi gs 10–13.