DIFFERENCES IN FOSSIL SEED FRUIT-FLORAS, WOOD-FLORAS, AND LEAF-FLORAS, TAPHONOMY AND ECOLOGICAL IMPLICATIONS/

Wind transportation is a major factor in the origin of leaf assemblage s, in contrast to that of fruit/seed assemblages which are mainly wate rborne. The Upper Miocene, Pliocene and Lower Pleistocene vegetation o f the lower Rhine embayment is reconstructed focussing on the differen ces between these types of assemblages. The Upper Miocene forest was a nearly subtropical forest containing two storeys of trees, with the p alaeotropic element concentrated in the understorey. During the Plioce ne temperate forest developed, generally by means of the reduction of the understorey, especially of the palaeotropic taxa, and by the incre ase of herbs. During the Pleistocene for the first time a temperate op en herbaceous upland vegetation appeared.