Matskási István (szerk.): A Magyar Természettudományi Múzeum évkönyve 88. (Budapest 1996)

Bajzáth, J.: Plant macrofossils from Hungarian Pleistocene II. Angiospermatophyta in Győrújfalu, West Hungary

ANNALES HISTORICO-NATURALES MUSEI NATIONALIS HUNGARICI Volume 88. Budapest, 1996 pp. 5-20. Plant macrofossils from Hungarian Pleistocene II. Angiospermatophyta in GyŐrújfalu, West Hungary* J. BAJZÁTH Department of Botany, Hungarian Natural History Museum H-1087 Budapest, Könyves Kálmán krî. 40, Hungary BAJZÁTH, J. (1996): Plant macrofossils from Hungarian Pleistocene 11. Angiospermatophyta in GyŐrújfalu, West Hungary. - Annls hist.-nat. Mus. natn. hung. 88: 5-20. Abstract - A great number of plant-remains was found in the gravel-pit near GyŐrújfalu between 20 and 35 metres depth. The age of this assemblage according to the bioslratigraphy of the vertebrates and molluscs is Günz-Mindel (Cromer) interglacial. Among these fossil plants there are tree trunks, cones and seeds of gymnosperms, fruits and seeds of angiosperms and oospores of Characeae. The taxa of angiosperms are mainly herbaceous, aquatic or wetland species. In the assemblage the seeds of Potamogeton, Carex, Ranunculus and oospores of Characeae species dominated. Nine different plant communities could be distinguished by the macrofossils. Almost whole vegetation succession of the filling backwater is reconstructed from the communities. With 26 figures. INTRODUCTION In a previous paper (BAJZÁTH 1995) an important and unique locality of the Hungarian Lower Pleistocene (Günz-Mindel, Cromer interglacial) was reported. The first results of the palaeobotanical investigation were given in that publication. This year the study of gymnosperms was completed with examinations of the angiosperms and the other plant macrofossils. Here follows a general description of the macrofossils (fruits and seeds) which were found in the fluvial deposit in 20 m depth. The greyish, calcareous sand layer, between 20 m and 30 m, contains big clay lenses and silt lenses. The clay boulders I found in the deposit have two types: one is blackish with more humified peat fragments; it contained more fruit- and seed-fossils than the other type which was brown and peaty. In the brown clay the mineral parts were mixed with fragments of leaves and stems, small pieces of trees and seeds. To start the present investigation with I examined the macrofossils found in the clay lens. Having washed through the sieve sequences, I found a great number of macrofossils. 38 taxa of the angiosperms could be determined exactly. In addition three types of the oospores of Characeae were found: Nitellopsis obtusa, Cham sp., Nitella sp. These macrofossils were very well preserved, slightly charred and more or less whole so their identification at low taxonomic level was possible and easier. * Plant macrofossils from Hungarian Pleistocene I. Gymnospermatophyta in Győrújfalu, West Hungary