European Palaeobotany and Palynology Conference 2026

This study presents a new morphotype of lignified leaves from the South Bohemian basins. New material consisting of leaf fragments from the Coniacian of the Klikov Formation come from a drill core in vicinity of České Velenice. The Klikov Formation is 350 m thick, primarily filled with material of fluvial origin consisting of fossil leaves, charcoalified mesofossils and silicified tree trunks.

Fragmented fossil leaves from the České Velenice borehole were gained by bulk maceration and sieving. The material was selected based on leaf macro- and micro- morphology. The cuticle of tiny, dentate leaves is difficult to macerate because of their fragility caused probably by certain degree of charcoalification. The cuticles observed are described as moderately thick to thick sometimes papillate, showing anomocytic and cyclocytic stomata often surrounded externally by pronounced wrinkling. It is particularly of interest that entire multicellular trichomes have been preserved on cuticles.

A preliminary reconstruction of the Klikov vegetation defines palaeoenvironments: 1) river floodplains dominated by platanoids and lauroids, 2) exposed soils dominated by bryophytes and small monocots, and 3) upland vegetation colonised by the Normapolles complex, mesophytic-xerophytic ferns, and gymnosperms. Within this framework, the studied leaf cuticles exhibit xerophytic features typical of the upland environment. This study offers a rare glimpse into the composition and xerophytic adaptations of Coniacian upland vegetation, enriching our understanding of the Klikov Formation flora.

Acknowledgements: This study was financially supported by the Czech Science Foundation (GAČR) 23-05142K.