In situ pollen grains of the fossil flower remains of the Sparganium (Typhaceae), Castanea (Fagaceae) and Pinus (Pinaceae) of Middle Miocene materials from Southwest Bulgaria are described for the first time. Palynomorphological investigation included pollen class, ornamentation, aperture, shape and size, and provided some important new data. Stratigraphic and geographic distribution is shown for each pollen taxon. The in situ pollen were compared with those from other dispersed pollen grains, mainly from the Miocene period, and also compared to present-day relatives. The results are used to identify fossil species and to reconstruct vegetation in the area. The fossil records demonstrate that genera Pinus , Castanea and Sparganium were widespead in Bulgarian and European fossil floras in this time period.
Key words: in situ pollen, fossil flowers, Miocene, Bulgaria
Topic: GEOLOGY