B. Papp szerk.: Studia Botanica Hungarica 30-31. 1999-2000 (Budapest, 2000)

Rákosi, László; Barbacka, Mária: Upper Cretaceous flora from Ajka (W Hungary). I. Thallophyta

Studia bot. hung. 30-31, pp. 27-55, 1999-2000 UPPER CRETACEOUS FLORA FROM AJKA (W HUNGARY). I. THALLOPHYTA L. RÁKOSI

1 and M. BARBACKA

2 'Hungarian Geological Survey, H-1143 Budapest, Stefánia út 14, Hungary department of Botany, Hungarian Natural History Museum H1476 Budapest, Pf 222, Hungary Rich fossilised plant material was collected from eleven boreholes (Upper Cretaceous) near Ajka (W Hungary). A review of megaspores, representing 30 taxa is discussed in this paper. This is the first report of megaspores of this age from Hungary. Two new species are described: Bacutriletes ajkaënsis, Spermatites kaptalanfaënsis. Key words: Upper Cretaceous, Hungary, megaspores INTRODUCTION The locality is found in the western part of Hungary, in the Bakony Mts, in the vicinity of the town of Ajka. It is one of the four Senonian deposits in Hungary and belongs to the Ajka Coal Formation, the Bakony part of the Transdanubian Central Range (GÓCZÁN et al. 1986, CSÁSZÁR and GÓCZÁN 1988). The stratigraphical and geological study was made in earlier times parallel with the coal production of the brown coal deposits in this area (the coal production has been continuous from the middle of 19th century). Based on palynological investigations, the flora of the Upper Cretaceous brown coal deposits in Hungary is rather rich and varied. However, the megaspores and other macrofossils collected from near Ajka have not been studied thoroughly. In connection with the coal exploration in the Transdanubian Central Range the planned work was extended to analise the borehole samples on macrofloral and palaeocarpological material, on phytoplankton above the 200 urn size, on megaspores, fossil leaves, fruits and seeds, as well as fossil wood (preserved mainly as fusain). However, the investigation was never complete yet the material contained valuable samples that needed thorough investigation. Occasional data were published with long intervals. VADÁSZ (1940, pp. 39 and 48) mentioned that Hollendonner identified some fusain remains as belonging to Taxodium. GREGUSS (1949) also examined some samples of fusain and established a new species, Podocarpoxylon ajkaënse. PAÁL-SOLT (1962) mentioned some conifer fusains as well as showed that frondous woods were also present there. Studio Botanica Hungarica 30-31, 1999-2000 Hungarian Natural History Museum