Zs. P. Komáromy szerk.: Studia Botanica Hungarica 13. 1979 (Budapest, 1979)

Hably, Lilla: Climatic changes in the area of Central Paratethys during the Tertiary (based on the macroflora)

STUDIA BOTANICA HUNGAR1CA Antea: Fragmenta Botanica Tom. XIII 1979 p. 39-46 Climatic changes in the area of Central Paratethys during the Tertiary (based on the macroflora) Lilla HABLY ABSTRACT: The plants have an important role in the determination of the climate of the Tertiary. In the present work we have observed the climatic changes in the area of Central Paratethys during the Tertiary. The Hungarian Tertiary flora and climate are compared with surrounding flora in the south and north of this country. The plant fossil with respect to determining age and rock formation is expectional, but its ecological role on the mainland is quite unique, especially during the Tertiary. In the following the floral changes and relationships of the neighbouring countries will be considered, on the basis of which conclusions will be drawn concerning the climatic fluctuations of the Tertiary. Already at the beginning of the Tertiary there appear the two main types of flora, which cannot only be traced but are the determinants of the florae of later ages. One is the Arctotertiary flora which appears already in the Paleocene with deciduous, dendroid, dicotyledonous plants around the Arctic. The Liquidambar

, Salix

, Populus

, Betula

, Ulmus

, Alnus

, Carpinus

, Fagus

, Quercus

, Juglans

, Platanus

, Acer genera indicate temperate climate. There are a few genera among them indicating a warmer climate, such as Cinnamomum

, Magnolia

. The flora has the same name as that of the Turgai flora of KRIS TOFOVICS (1955), in the area of the Eastern Paratethys; they are the same. The deciduous flora indicates continental climate and seasonal rhythm. The date of the appearance of Arctotertiary elements is of decisive importance in the determination of paleoflorae. This will be discussed in detail in connection with the different ages. The other important type of flora is the Paleotropical. This is the same as the Poltawa flora of KRISTOFOVICS (1955), the Tethys flora of REID andCHAND-