Identification of fossil trunks from Bükkábrány newly installed in the Visitor Centre of the Ipolytarnóc Fossils Nature Reserve (Novohrad – Nógrád Geopark) in Northern Hungary

• Main Authors: Vladimír Gryc, Jakub Sakala
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Mendel University Press 2010-01-01
• Series: Acta Universitatis Agriculturae et Silviculturae Mendelianae Brunensis
• Subjects: <i>Glyptostroboxylon</i>; <i>Taxodioxylon</i>; Late Miocene; xylite; Hungary
• Online Access: https://acta.mendelu.cz/58/5/0117/

The Late Miocene forest was discovered in the opencast lignite mine of Bükkábrány which is situated in the foothills of the Bükk Mountains (NE Hungary). Sixteen stumps were exposed upright in 2007 at their original position. Five stumps were installed in the Ipolytarnóc Fossils Nature Reserve. They are identified in the present paper. The wood of one fossil trunk (No. 1) has been identified as Glyptostroboxylon rudolphii, which represents the wood of Glyptostrobus. Its main microscopic features are: visible growth rings, gradual transition between early- and late wood, rather small opposite bordered pits in 1–2 loosely spaced vertical rows with infrequent crassulae, uniseriate rays formed of procumbent cells without ray tracheids, 1–3 “glyptostroboid” cross-field pits per field and resin canals absent. The four remaining stumps (Nos. 2–5) have been identified as Taxodioxylon germanicum.. Their main microscopic features are: growth rings, abrupt transition between early- and late wood, opposite bordered pits in 1–3 regular vertical rows with frequent crassulae, uniseriate rays formed of procumbent cells without ray tracheids, 1–3 taxodioid cross-field pits per field arranged mostly in one horizontal row, axial parenchyma both in early and late wood (diffuse arrangement) with smooth transverse end walls and resin canals absent. This species most probably represents the wood of Sequoia.