L. Hably szerk.: Studia Botanica Hungarica 19. 1986 (Budapest, 1986)

Hably, Lilla: Analysis of leaf size of the Ipolytarnóc flora from a climatological point of view

DISCUSSION In the course of the analysis of the Ipolytarnóc flora I found that compared with the fossil floras, leaf size varied considerably. Five leaf area categories were distinguished. Similar patterns have been found in Eocene floras in Germany (MAI & WALTHER 1985). Since there are no other Hungarian data available, we could not compare the findings of this study with other local Neogene floras. However, compared with other fossil and recent studies, we may conclude that the climate was a wet subtropical one. This conclusion is in agreement with my previous finding based on the species composition of the flora (HABLY 1985). Similarities may be found with the histograms of Eocene floras from Germany (MAI & WALTHER 1985). In these floras the microphyll elements dominate, but the proportion of the nanophyll elements is also considerable. The proportion of the notophyll and macrophyll elements is different. In the abovementioned Eocene flora the former ones, in Ipolytarnóc the latter ones play a significant role in the absence of the palms. Further detailed conclusions as regards palaeo-climate and climatic changes may be drawn with the above methods based on fossil floras. REFERENCES CAIN, S. A. & CASTRO, D. M. O. (1959): Manual of Vegetation Analysis. - Harper, New York, 255 pp. DOLPH, G. & DILCHER, D. (1979): Foliar phisiognomy as an aid in determining paleoclimate. Palaeontographica B, 170 (4-6): 151-172. DOLPH, G.Sc DILCHER, D. (1980 a): Variation in leaf size with respect to climate in Costa Rica. - Biotropica 1_2 (2): 91-99. DOLPH, G. & DILCHER, D. (1980 b): Variation in leaf size with respect to climate in the tropics of the Western Hemisphere. - Bull. Torrey Bot. Club, 107. (2): 154-162. HABLY, L. (1985): Ipolytarnóc alsó-miocén korú flórája. Early Miocene plant fossils from Ipolytarnóc, N. Hungary. - Geol. Hung. ser. Pal., 45_: 73-255. MAI, D.& WALTHER, H. (1985): Die obereozänen Floren des Weisselster-Beckens und seiner Randgebiete. - Abh. Staatl. Mus. Mineral. Geol. Dresden, 33: 1-260. WEBB, L. J. (1959): A physiognomic classification of Australian rain forests. - J. Ecol. 47

: 551-570. Table 3. Leaf size of Arbutus elegáns No. length width L/W A No. length width L/W A 82. 420. 1. 3.2 _ 82. .429. 1. 7. 9 3. 8 2, 1 20.0 82. 421. 1, 1. 2 82. 430. 1. 8, 6 3. ! 2. 3 21.2 Table 4. Leaf size of Cyclocarya eye [ocarpa No. length width L/W A No. length width L/W A 53. 2. 2. 1,3 54. 994. 1 . 2.6 53. 5. 2. 1. 7 54. 996. 1. 2. 1 53. 9. 1. 4, 3 1. 7 2, 5 4.9 54. 997. 1 . 4.0 1.3 3. 1 3. 5 53. 10. 1. 1.6 54. 998. 1. 5. 0 1. 5 3.3 5.0 53. 11. 1. 1.6 54. 999. 2. 5,0 1. 7 2.9 5. 7 53. 14. 1. 2. 1 2.0 1. 6 54. 987. 1 . 5, 2 1.6 3.25 5. 5 53. 17. 1. 2. 6 1. 1 2. 1 1,9 54 . 1002, . 1 . 5. 7 1 . 6 3.6 6. 1 54. 993. 1. 4. 5 1.5 3. .0 4, 5 54 . 1006. . 1. 1.4 54. 988. 1. 5.0 1 . 7 2, !) 5, 7 51. 1004, . 1. 1.2 2 7