Coniacian flora of the Sudetes (south-western Poland): Palaeoecological and palaeoclimatic interpretations

Abstract Palaeoecology of the Coniacian Flora of the Sudetes (Idzikow flora; south-western Poland) is reconstructed on the basis of fossil plant morphology, palynology and taphonomy. Four plant communities are reconstructed: salt marsh–mangrove forest dominated by Frenelopsis ; wetland coastal forest dominated by Geinitzia , Pandanites , Monheimia ; riparian forest dominated by Ettingshausenia , Debeya , Dryophyllum ; and mesophytic forest dominated by microphyllous angiosperms. Proxy palaeoclimatic data for the Idzikow flora have been estimated using CLAMP technique. The numerical variables are as follows: mean annual temperature — 17.2 °C, warm month mean temperature — 25.2 °C, cold month mean temperature — 8.7 °C, length of the growing season — 9.4 months, growing season precipitation — 841 mm, mean monthly growing season precipitation — 135 mm, precipitation during the three consecutive wettest months — 484 mm, precipitation during the three consecutive driest months — 100 mm, relative humidity — 68.5, specific humidity — 8.9, and enthalpy 32.57. The reconstructed vegetation was probably a warm temperate seasonal to tropical forest, experiencing hot summers and a short relatively dry season.