The Miocene peat-forming vegetation of northwestern Germany: an analysis of wood remains and comparison with previous palynological interpretations

New methods of sampling, preparing and identifying fossil wood fragments pr eserved in browncoal are presented and used to aid in reconstructions of th e vegetation from the Miocene Lower Rhine Basin (Germany). The technique in volves laboratory charring wood specimens followed by routine identificatio n with reflected light microscopy. Problems concerning the taxonomic identi fication of the fossil wood are discussed. A list of taxa is presented for the Garzweiler Seam and the implications for reconstructing the Miocene pal aeoenvironment are discussed with reference to ecological comparisons of ex tant taxa: the nearest living relative approach. Results indicate a dominan ce of conifer wood types, mostly representing members of the Taxodiaceae an d Cupressaceae; extensive sampling is required of both small (macroscopic) and large fragments to obtain results comparable with palynological assembl ages. Up to now, twenty-one taxa of gymnosperms and angiosperms have been r ecognized from the Garzweiler seam. Data obtained are compared with those f rom pollen analysis and corroborate the previously identified trend consist ing of increasing concentrations of Taxodium towards the upper section of t he seam. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.