Palaeoxylotomical Studies in the Cenozoic Petrified Forests of Greece. Part Two – Conifers

Abstract

This paper reports the palaeoxylotomical study of petrified conifer remains from Velitzelos collection, orig-inating from some fossiliferous sites of Greece, especially from the Aegean area (Evros, Limnos, Lesbos), aged of late Oligocene to early Miocene. Ten species were identified: Cupressinoxylon akdikii, Juniperoxylon acarcae, Tetraclinoxylon velitzelosii, Taxodioxylon gypsaceum, Taxodioxylon taxodii, Glyptostroboxylon rudolphii, Glyptostroboxylon tenerum, Pinuxylon pineoides, Pinuxylon halepensoides and Pinuxylon sp. aff. Pinus canariensis. These new identifications add new elements to the forest assemblages of the Oligocene - Miocene Greek flora, useful for understanding the evolution of the Cenozoic palaeovegetation and palaeoclimate in the Aegean area.

MioceneCupressinoxylonfrom Gökçeada (Imbros), Turkey withProtophytobiacambium mining and the study of ecological signals of wood anatomy

“…Lesbos Island, housing the well-known petrified forest in its western peninsula and additional plant fossiliferous localities with impressive upright and fallen silicified stems of early Miocene age ( e.g ., Süss & Velitzelos, 1993 ; Süss & Velitzelos, 1994a ; Süss & Velitzelos, 1994b ; Süss & Velitzelos, 1997 , 1998 , 1999 , 2000 , 2001 , 2009 , 2010 ; Süss, 1997 , 2003 ; Mantzouka, 2016 , 2018 ; Mantzouka et al, 2013 , 2016 , 2019 ; Mantzouka, Karakitsios & Sakala, 2017 ), represents a geoheritage monument internationally recognized by UNESCO. The material from Lesbos and Lemnos Islands is documented in Mantzouka et al (2013 , 2016 , 2019) , Mantzouka, Karakitsios & Sakala (2017) , Velitzelos, Bouchal & Denk (2014) , Mantzouka (2016 , 2018) , Velitzelos et al (2019) , and Iamandei et al (2021) . Anatomical studies of wood involving the microscopic sectioning of fossil wood structures during the last decade have revealed the occurrence of Cupressaceae similar to the wood in this study also from Lemnos Island ( Mantzouka, 2016 ; Iamandei et al, 2021 ).…”

“…The material from Lesbos and Lemnos Islands is documented in Mantzouka et al (2013 , 2016 , 2019) , Mantzouka, Karakitsios & Sakala (2017) , Velitzelos, Bouchal & Denk (2014) , Mantzouka (2016 , 2018) , Velitzelos et al (2019) , and Iamandei et al (2021) . Anatomical studies of wood involving the microscopic sectioning of fossil wood structures during the last decade have revealed the occurrence of Cupressaceae similar to the wood in this study also from Lemnos Island ( Mantzouka, 2016 ; Iamandei et al, 2021 ). Lesbos and Lemnos Islands continue to reveal new evidence of a rich fossil wood assemblage of angiosperms, including monocots and conifers that contain several type species for the early and middle Miocene ( Table 1 ).…”

“Geo-Archaeo-Routes” on the Island of Lemnos: The “Nalture” Experience as a Holistic Geotouristic Approach within the Geoethical Perspective

“…There are some lignotaxa previously described from the Petrified Forest of Lemnos, such as Laurinoxylon ehrendorferi, Cornoxylon pappi and a problematic conifer, initially described as Pinoxylon parenchymatosum, later revised as a species of Lesbosoxylon [86]. More recently, some palm fossil taxa were described [87] and a series taxa of fossilized wood have been further identified [88], such as Cupressinoxylon akdiki, Juniperoxylon acarcae, Tetraclinoxylon velitzelosii, Taxodioxylon gypsaceum, Taxodioxylon taxodii, Glyptostroboxylon rudolphii, Glyptostroboxylon tenerum, Pinuxylon pineoides and Pinuxylon halepensoides. The next highlight of the route is the Volcanic Crater of Moschylos (G35; Figures 3, 4 and 8b).…”