A Jurassic (Pliensbachian) flora from Bornholm, Denmark - a study of a historic plant-fossil collection at Lund University, Sweden

Abstract

A historic collection of plant fossils from the Bagå Formation, Bornholm, Denmark registered at the Lund University is reviewed and found to be dominated by ferns with subsidiary Ginkgoales, Coniferales, Bennettitales and Equisitales. Ten genera are represented, of which six can be confidently identified to species level. The Bagå Formation flora is most similar in age to the flora of the Middle Jurassic Mariedals Formation of Eriksdal, Ska ne, although there are important compositional differences between these assemblages. The Bagå flora is characteristic of the temperate (warm and humid) biome of the Early-mid Jurassic. A historical investigation reveals that at least four scientists contributed material to the collections. A palynological investigation made on samples from the leaf fossils reveals that the macroflora was most probably collected from the Sorthat beds as the palynoflora corresponds to the Pliensbachian Chasmatosporites Zone.