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

35 species) occurs in warm zone of North
America, Asia and Australia (Krüssmann
1976). The genus Hedera (with about 5 species
of evergreen climbers) grows in Europe, North
America and Asia (Krüssmann 1977).
Familiae ARALIACEAE, CORNACEAE
(161) Tricolporopollenites sp. 6
Pl. 17, fi g. 3a, b
1977 Araliaceae–Cornaceae; Oszast & Stuchlik, pl. 11,
fi g. 8.
R e m a r k s. Pollen grains similar to pollen of
both Araliaceae and Cornaceae families, with
not visible pores. Araliaceae/Cornaceae group
has been distinguished e.g. by Oszast and
Stuchlik (1977). In the studied material these
pollen grains were encountered regularly, reaching
max. 2–3%.
Familiae ARALIACEAE, RHAMNACEAE
(162) Tricolporopollenites sp. 7
Pl. 17, fi g. 2a, b
Pollen grains tricolporate, in equatorial
view circular to broadly oval in outline, in
polar view triangular to triangular-circular in
outline, 18–22 μm in size. Colpi long, bent in
equatorial plain. Pores oval to circular, 1.5–2.0
μm in size. Exine about 1 μm thick, surface
reticulate, lumina irregular.
R e m a r k s. These pollen grains resemble
those of families Rhamnaceae and Araliaceae,
not determinated closer. Fossil pollen
grains of Rhamnaceae type are found in deposits
since the Oligocene (Muller 1981). From
the Miocene they were reported by Doktorowicz-Hrebnicka
(1956a – Pollenites insignis
Doktorowicz-Hrebnicka), Stuchlik (1964 –
Tricolporopollenites haanradensis Manten),
Thiele-Pfeiffer (1980 – Rhamnaceaepollenites
triquetrus Thiele-Pfeiffer), and other authors.
In the studied material similar pollen grains
were encountered sporadically, in quantities
up to a few per cent.
Nowadays the family Rhamnaceae contains
about 58 genera and 900 species of trees,
shrubs and rarely herbs occurring almost all
over the world in temperate to tropical climate
(Engler 1964, Hutchinson 1973, Heywood
1978).
Familia APIACEAE
55
Umbelliferoipollenites Venkatachala & Kar
1968 emend. Nagy 1985
(163) Umbelliferoipollenites speciosus
Nagy 1985
Pl. 17, fi g. 4a–c
1985 Umbelliferoipollenites speciosus n. sp., Nagy,
pp. 46, 172, pl. 97, fi g. 35, pl. 98, fi gs 4–7.
Pollen grains tricolporate, in equatorial
view oval in outline, elongate, about 22 × 10
μm in size. Ectopores 2.0–2.5 μm in diameter,
endopores 5–6 × 2.5–3.0 μm in size. Exine 2.0–
2.5 μm thick, surface granulate, grains massive
in structure.
(164) Umbelliferoipollenites tenuis
Nagy 1985
Pl. 17, fi g. 5a, b
1985 Umbelliferoipollenites tenuis n. sp., Nagy, pp. 46,
173, pl. 98, fi gs 8–12.
Pollen grains tricolporate, similar in structure
to the above-mentioned species, 21–26 ×
10–12 μm in size, with a narrowing in equatorial
plain. The mutual ratio of length and
width is 2 : 1. Colpi narrow, ectopores circular
about 1 μm in diameter, endopores equatorially
elongated about 4 × 2.0–2.5 μm in size.
Exine 1.0–1.5 μm thick, in pole areas thicker,
surface fi nely granulate.
R e m a r k s. Pollen grains of Apiaceae type are
known from deposits since the Lower Eocene
(Muller 1981), but they are more frequent in
younger Tertiary. They have been reported
from the Polish Neogene (Stuchlik 1964, Oszast
1967, 1973, Stachurska et al. 1967, Sadowska
1977, Jahn et al. 1984). In the studied material
a few specimens of both above-mentioned
species were found in the Lusatian seam.
Today the family Apiaceae (about 300 genera
with 2500–3000 species, mainly perennial
plants) is distributed all over the world, especially
in temperate zone (Heywood 1978).
Ordo DIPSACALES
Familia CAPRIFOLIACEAE
Diervilla Mill., Weigela Thunb.
Diervillapollenites
Doktorowicz-Hrebnicka 1956