STUDIES ON THE FOSSIL FLORA OF GEBEL QATRANI, FAYUM, EGYPT

Abstract

Two hundred and fifty specimens of petrified woods were collected from Gebel Qatrani Formation. They were assigned to at least 16 species from 11 genera of 4 families of angiospermic woods, including ?Lumnitzeroxylon sp.,Terminalioxylonedwardsii, Terminalioxylonsp 1, Terminalioxylonsp 2, Terminalioxylonsp 3 (Combretaceae); Caesalpinioxylonmogadense, Cassiniumprefistulai, Hopeoxylon indicum, Pahudioxylon sp. (Fabaceae: Caesalpinioideae), Albiziniumpondicherriensis, Dichrostachyoxylon zirkelii, Tetrapleuroxylon cf. acaciae(Fabaceae: Mimosoideae); and Bombacoxylon owenii (Malvaceae) of dicotyledons and Palmoxylon sp.1, Palmoxylon sp. 2, Palmoxylon sp. 3 of fossil palm woods (monocotolydones); besides at least 10 morphotypes have not yet been identified.The three fossil palm woods recorded are significant because the specimens were the first to be reported from the deposits of the upper sequence of Gebel Qatrani Formation. Only a few fossil plants are so far known from this sequence. A critical review of the five taxa of Palmoxylonpreviously reported from Qatrani Formation revealed that only two species, i.e., Palmoxylon geometricum Sahniand P. pondicherriense Sahni, are considered valid from this locality.However, in the absence of independent confirmation, all other records of Palmoxylon are highly doubtful and preferably disregarded altogether. As a result of this study, an amended description of the Palmoxylon lacunosum is also given to better encompass its entire anatomical features. The systematic treatment includes full descriptions, illustrations, detailed comparisons and affinities with related fossil and modern species. Paleoclimatic inferences are given. The present study also enumerates the other so far known fossil plants from the Gebel Qatrani Formation. It represents the first survey of its kind (in Egypt), it includes the largest number of specimens collected ever from one locality.

Keywords:Africa, Cenozoic, Egypt, Fossil wood, Gebel Qatrani Formation, Oligocene, Paleobotany.