Matskási István (szerk.): A Magyar Természettudományi Múzeum évkönyve 83. (Budapest 1991)

Kvaček, Z. ; Hably, L.: Notes on the Egerian stratotype flora at Eger (Wind Brickyard), Hungary, Upper Oligocene

much weight to them in climatic estimations. The remains of EWU underwent little transport because complete leaf fans of ferns (Pronephrium) or at least fragments and palms (Calamus) occur in little demaged specimens. According to the above-summarized composition of the assemblages we gather that the climatic conditions did not change much from the EWL to EMU. The timespan between them was certainly not long enough to reflect a pronounced change in the climatic trend. Hence we do not fully agree with ANDREÁNSZKY (1966) who expects warming trends between EWL and EWU, but neither with PLANDEROVÁ et al. (1975) who see cooling trends in the influx of riparian ("Arcto-Tertiary") elements, mainly in EWU. NAGY (1979) rightly stressed the role of palaeoenvironment and noted "Arcto-Tertiary" elements at all three levels of the macroflora at EW. Her palynological data and climatic estimates largely correspond with the conditions given below. According to the macroflora of EW the climate was similar to that confied today to Central and Eastern China. The influence of an extensive warm sea prevented long and severe frosts and more pronounced temperature changes. The mean annual temperature does not seem to be very high (about 15 °C) and the mean annual range of temperature might vary about 20-25 °C (cf. WOLFE 1979). The conditions in the early Egerian were surely not so optimal as in the Early Oligocène or late Early Miocene, when Mastixiaceae floras thrived. CORRELATION AND COMPARISONS The question of floristic correlations can be satisfactorily solved only when corresponding vegetational units are compared. The similarity of two assemblages need not mean their same age and, on the contrary, assemblages from various environmental settings in the same period (stratigraphical level) can look very differently. Within the Paratethys area the swamp-riparian assemblage of EWU shares most taxa with the same type of vegetation from the Upper Oliocene Jiu Valley. With some corrections made by GIVULESCU (1973, 1983, 1986, 1987) and our own observations we meet there the same set of pteridophytes (abundant Osmunda lignitum, Fronephrium stiriacum, Blechnum dentatum, a very similar riparian-swamp forests with Alnus nostratum complex, Acer tricuspidatum (incl. hungaricum), Myrica longifolia, "Rhamnus" warthae, Calamus noszkyi just to name the most important species. For ecological reasons Platanus neptuni is not represented and mesophytic elements (Pinus, Tetraclinis, Trigonobalanopsis) are scarce or absent both in EWU and the Jiu Valley. The latter differs also in the conifers, which include also Taxodium, Gtyptostrobus and Sequoia abietina there. This may be caused by more pronounced coal-forming awampy conditions in the lignite basin. The other Egerian floras in Hungary (HABLY 1982,1985,1987,1989,1990) are dominated by Platanus neptuni, Daphnogene and a few other accessories. They all match well with the EWL and EWM assemblages and include regularly fragments of riparian and swamp forests of EWU ((Leguminosae,,4/mi.y oligocaenica, Acer, Myrica longifolia, "Rhamnus" warthae, Calamus), according to the sedimentation conditions. However, Dryophyllum callicomifolium is not represented. The richer local flora from Vértesszőlős (HABLY 1990) differs also in the higher frequency of Taxodium, Betula sp. áiv.,Acer