Estudio de la macroflora oligocena de las cercanías de Cervera (Colección Martí Madern del Museo de Geología de Barcelona)

Abstract

Study of the Oligocene macroflora near Cervera (Ebro Basin, Spain). Madern Collection of the Museu de Geologia of Barcelona.

821 specimens of fossil macroflora (mainly leaves) from the Madern Collection of the Museu de Geologia of Barcelona are studied. This paleoflora proceeds from different outcrops situated near the locality of Cervera (Ebro Basin, Lleida, Spain). The layers (marts) containing this vegetation have been dated as belonging to the upper part of the Lower Oligocene based on studies of fossil vertebrates. At the moment 90 species have been determined. We have defined 7 new species for the first time in the Spanish Oligocene. Basically this paleoflora shows tropical and subtropical features which are very similar to those that now exist near the tropics, in a latitude between 22° and 30°.
From the study of this macroflora, we can deduce that the basic vegetal community was like the Laurisilva, with dominant presence of Lauraceae family and Quercus, originating an <> or <>. The climatic conditions favouring the development of this flora, were high and quite constant humidity and a mild temperature, in levels of over 400-500 metres.
Associated with the Laurisilva community exists in lower levels a characteristic vegetal xerophitic community and, also, a vegetal hydrophytic association typical of a lake environment.