Understanding an exceptional Afropollis‐dominated flora in the middle Cretaceous palaeotropics of the southern Tethys

• DOI: 10.1002/spp2.1602
• Publication Date: 2024-11-18T09:39:41Z
• Authors: Haytham El Atfy; Clément Coiffard; Salah Y. El Beialy; James A. Doyle
• Keywords: Flora

Abstract Afropollis is a common element in Cretaceous low‐latitude palynofloras ranging from the Barremian to Cenomanian. Despite an abundant fossil record, its affinities are still elusive. Nine ‐rich subsurface samples Cenomanian Bahariya Formation northern part of Western Desert Egypt were palynologically analysed, and palynoflora was compared with previously published material. The geographical distribution ‐yielding strata known macrofloras. material yielded distinct palynomorph assemblage dominated by unusually high frequency jardinus , reaching up 60.7% total count. dominance A. may be ecologically related near‐coastal lacustrine or lagoonal environment. Its association two kinds macrofloras suggests that plants producing have been tropical azonal vegetation type, either aquatic mangrove‐like.