Szekessy Vilmos (szerk.): A Magyar Természettudományi Múzeum évkönyve 56. (Budapest 1964)

Rásky, K.: Studies of Tertiary plant remains from Hungary

Corypha, Trachycarpus, Livistona, Licuala, etc. species. For instance, Figs 3-4 of Plate IV. show rays of equal width at the base of the leaf, a feature characteristical also of Chamaerops species. The strong curved prickle at the apex of the petiole characteristical of the recent Trachycarpus species, was never found in the fossil remains at Ipolytarnóc. TAKHTAJAN (1958), CHANDLER (1961), and BOBROWSKAYA (1962) mention the leaf remains of also Trachycarpus rhapifolia (STERNB.) TAKHT. The frequency and diversity of the fossil palm fruits from England (CHANDLER), and also the palm pollen remains from coal mines from Hungary (M. KEDVES) will yet enrich the presence of palm species and genera in the European Tertiary. Comparison with recent species: The fossil leaves of Sabal major are generally compared to those of the recent Sabal palmetto (WALTER) ROEM. & SCHULT., and Sabal umbraculifera JACK. WEYLAND, who first examined also the fossil epiderm of Sabal major, found it best comparable to the epiderms of the recent Sabal palmetto and Sabal adansonii GUERSENT. The Sabal palms live now in the southern parts of the United States, Sabal palmetto advancing farthest north. Calamus noszkyi JABLONSZKY (Plate V, Fig. 1, Pt. VI, Figs. 1—2, Pt. VII, Figs. 2, 4, Pt. VIII, Figs. 3—4). Description : The remains of feather palm leaves. In a number of impressions, the pinnate leaves remained in connection with the rachis. The rachis is 0,4—1 cm wide, occasionally with a decided edge decurrent on it. The plicately folded linear leaves arise from the rachis, then soon unfurl and extend parallel with it. The leaves generally arise spaced 3—4 cm from one another on the rachis. The width of the linear leaves varies between 1—2.5 cm, occasionally even wider, gradually attenuating toward the apex. The linear leaves have three, nearly equally strong midribs. Among these main veins, there are fine, dense veins decurrent parallel with each other. Both margins possess spinules, well visible in certain specimens, spaced 0.5—2.0 cm. The spinules become denser apically, sometimes observable only near the apex of the leaf. The spinules are pointing forward; they are rigid, generally 1—2 mm long, but sometimes attain even 0.5 cm. Remarks : The leaves of the palm Calamus noszkyi was frist published by JABLONSZKY from Ipolytarnóc (1914, p. 236, Taf. 9, Figs. 1 -3). He made a thorough comparison between the recent Calamus species and the fossil remains. There were subsequently found yet several hundreds of fragmentary impressions in the tuff layer. The impressions are wider (Plate V and VI) or narrower (Plate VIII, Fig. 3) leaves connected with the rachis, or parallel lying leaf remains, or even smaller, incomplete fragments. The spinules are present also on the margins of the narrow leaves. Aside of the uncertain remains known from the Tertiary, the leaves with sepinouse margins of Calamus beccarii SQUIN. (1892, p. 74, Pt. 20, Fig. 3, and Pt. 30, Fig. 7) from the sediments in Liguria resemble best the fossils of Calamus noszkyi. CHANDLER (1957, p. 88, Pt. 12, Figs. 24—44) described young fruits or female flowers, fragments of fruiting axis and seeds under the name Calamus daemonorops (UXG.) CHANDLER, from the Oligocène flora of the Bovey Tracey Lake Basin. One flower contained stamens with pollen. This was examined by J. B. SIMPSON (1936). C. REID & E. M. REID (1910) discussed the remains earlier under the name Palmacites daemonorops (UNG.) REID. KIRCHHEIMER (1937, p. 45: 1940, p. 28) united the palm trunk remains from the German coal mines under the name Palmoxylon daemonorops (UNG.) KIRCH., relating them to the recent Calamus species of Malaya. All these remains prove the presence of the genus Calamus in the European Tertiary. Comparison with recent species: JABLONSZKY compared the Ipolytarnóc remains with the leaves of the recent Calamus flagellum GRIFF., Calamus ornatusBh., and Calamus khasianus BECC. There is a resemblance also to the leaves of Calamus ciliaris BL. (Plate VIII, Fig. 3), Calamus viminalis WILLD., Calamus gracilis ROXB., Calamus erectus ROXB., etc. Palm leaves similar to the leaf remains of the recent Calamus species occur also in other genera. It is extremely difficult to separate their