BRUCKENTHALIA SPICULIFOLIA (SALISB) REICHENB (ERICACEAE) IN THE LATE QUATERNARY OF WESTERN-EUROPE

Bruckenthalia spiculifolia is confined today to high mountainous areas of the Balkan region. Examination of pollen spectra from western Euro pe shows it to have been widespread formerly, especially during the Ea rly Weichselian period. Recent work, at sites in France, has led to th e claim that this pollen taxon, because it was believed not to have be en recovered from sites allocated to the Eemian interglacial or earlie r periods, has a diagnostic value as an indicator of the age of deposi ts. This claim is examined here, against a background of the present d ay occurrence of Bruckenthalia spiculifolia, the recognition of the po llen type and the locations at which it has been found. It is conclude d that strong support can be provided for the diagnostic value of Bruc kenthalia, but the claim that it is only diagnostic for the Weichselia n period cannot be justified as it is also found in deposits belonging to the terminal phases of the Cromerian, Hoxnian (Holsteinian) and Ip swichian (Eemian) interglacials and the respective immediately succeed ing interstadials.