Fruit and seed floras from exceptionally preserved biotas in the European Paleogene

Exceptionally preserved fossil fruit and seed assemblages from two European Paleogene sites—Messel Pit, Germany, and the Isle of Wight, UK—reveal critical insights into Middle Eocene dispersal biology, biogeography, and plant-animal interactions. These assemblages, associated with exquisitely preserved flowers, insects, and vertebrates (at Messel), showcase delicate structures like plumes, wings, and a fruit with a long awn. Rare specimens at Messel, including fully preserved fruiting heads and seeds within animal gut contents, highlight the site's significance for understanding floristic diversity and soft tissue preservation. The study combines paleobotanical analysis with detailed morphological examination to reconstruct past ecosystems and dispersal mechanisms.

Collinson, M., Manchester, S. R., Wilde, V., & Hayes, P. (2010). Fruit and seed floras from exceptionally preserved biotas in the European Paleogene. Bulletin of Geosciences, 155–162. https://doi.org/10.3140/bull.geosci.1155