This paleobotany list records new fossil plant taxa that were announced or described during the year 2026, as well as notes other significant paleobotany discoveries and events which occurred during the year.
Algae
Chlorophytes
Ochrophytes
Rhodophytes
Phycological research Mohammed et al. (2026) determine flask-shaped microfossils from the Dzhanytas Group (Kazakhstan) to be mid-Tonian in age, representing the oldest record of such microfossils reported to date, and interpret them as possible fossils of red algae. Fossil evidence of persistence of multicellular algae belonging to the genus Wengania into the early Cambrian is reported from the Zhujiaqing Formation (Yunnan, China) by You, Shang & Liu (2026). Fossil algae with morphological similarities to Proterozoic and Cambrian vendotaenids are reported from the Ordovician Landeyran Formation (France) by Vayda, Birolini & Xiao (2026). Jeon et al. (2026) study the growth characteristics of Palaeoaplysina from the Permian (Asselian) strata of the Tyrrellfjellet Member of the Wordiekammen Formation (Svalbard, Norway), and interpret Palaeoaplysina as more likely to be an alga (probably a red alga) than a sponge or cnidarian. Zhao et al. (2026) link the displacement of green eukaryotic algae by phytoplankton groups whose plastids are derived from rhodophytes as the dominant marine phytoplankton in the early Mesozoic to structural characteristics of red lineage phytoplankton that enhanced their resistance to environmental reactive oxygen species. Evidence of changes of cellular structure of coralline algae from Meghalaya (northeast India) in response to environmental changes during the Paleocene–Eocene thermal maximum, resulting in the studied algae maintaining calcification in spite of high temperatures and acidification of surface waters, is presented by Melbourne, Sarkar & Schmidt (2026). A study on the anatomy and diversity in organization of Pachytheca from the Silurian and Devonian strata from Welsh Borderland (United Kingdom), interpreted as an organism of uncertain phylogenetic placement with most likely affinities with green algae, is published by Edwards et al. (2026). Iturain, Martínez & Olivera (2026) reconstruct the life cycle of Jurassic tasmanitid prasinophytes from the Los Molles Formation (Argentina).
Non-vascular plants
Bryophyta
Marchantiophyta
Non-vascular plant research Evidence from the study of moss fossil from north-eastern European Russia, indicative of evolution of leaf developmental pathway in Permian protosphagnacean mosses similar to that of extant Sphagnum, is presented by Ignatov et al. (2026). Tremblay & Mercadal (2026) interpret the dark cells preserved in Paleozoic liverwort fossils as homologous with oil body cells of extant liverwort.
Lycophytes
Lycophyte research D'Antonio et al. (2026) report evidence of preservation of internal three-dimensional structure in specimens of Stigmaria from the Carboniferous strata in Illinois, Indiana and Iowa (United States), and evidence of differences between the rooting systems of Stigmaria and other rhizomorphic lycopsids, indicating that the studied structures likely are not homologous. Xu et al. (2026) report evidence from morphology and stable isotope analysis from Permian–Triassic transitional lycophytes from southwest China interpreted as consistent with use of crassulacean acid metabolism photosynthesis similar to the one seen in extant Isoetales, and interpret the physiology of the studied lycophytes as a possible factor enabling their survival during the Permian–Triassic extinction event and subsequent recovery. Peng et al. (2026) interpret Lycostrobus scottii as a member of Pleuromeiaceae on the basis of the study of fossil material from the Lower Jurassic (Hettangian) strata from Sweden; the authors also study the phylogenetic relationships of Devonian to Jurassic lycopsids and reconstruct the distribution of pleuromeian lycopsids during the Triassic-Jurassic transition, reporting evidence of their short-lived proliferation in pioneer communities in the aftermath of collapse of forest ecosystems at the end of the Triassic.
Ferns and fern allies
Cyatheales
Marattiales
Osmundales
Polypodiales
Salviniales
Other fern allies
Pteridological research Hollaar et al. (2026) report palynological evidence from strata from the Triassic-Jurassic transition in Europe interpreted as indicative of spread of fern-dominated savannas after forest collapse during the Triassic–Jurassic extinction, and of continental-scale fires of these savannas. A study on changes of distribution and on the evolutionary history of members of the genera Equisetites and Neocalamites in Europe, Central Asia and Siberia during the Early and Middle Jurassic is published by Frolov & Mashchuk (2026).
Conifers
Cheirolepidiaceae
Cupressaceae
Pinaceae
Podocarpaceae
Taxaceae
Other conifers
Conifer research Evidence of links between decline of Tsuga canadensis in North America and regional effects of climate changes during the Holocene is presented by Shuman (2026). Zhou et al. (2026) reconstruct the general morphology of Pagiophyllum maculosum on the basis of the study of the first fossil material reported from the Lower Jurassic strata in China. Evidence from the study of the Cenozoic fossil record of Metasequoia, indicative of southward shift of its distribution during the Neogene in response to global aridification and subsequent contraction of its range in response to climate changes during the Pleistocene, is presented by Chen et al. (2026). Taxonomic revision of coniferous woods from the Oligocene strata of the Petroșani Basin (Romania) is published by Călin, Popa & Pirnea (2026).
Bennettitales
Bennettitalean research Villalva & Gnaedinger (2026) report the discovery of bennettitopsid and gnetopsid reproductive organs from the Upper Triassic strata of the Laguna Colorada Formation (Argentina). Xu et al. (2026) revise the cuticle structures of Pterophyllum crassinervum and confirms its taxonomic validity.
Flowering plants
Magnoliids
Magnoliid research Rubalcava-Knoth et al. (2026) identify leaf architecture characters that can be used for identification of fossil members of Lauraceae at the family level.
Monocots
Alismatales
Arecales
Zingiberales
Monocot research Evidence from the study of the fossil record of seagrasses, indicative of links between the biogeographical distribution of seagrasses throughout the evolutionary history of the group and long-term climate fluctuations, is presented by Tuya et al. (2026). Redescription and a study on the affinities of Graminocarpon is published by Manchester et al. (2026), who interpret the studied plant as a possible member or relative of Arecaceae. Bellot et al. (2026) reconstruct the evolutionary history of palms on the basis of phylogeny of extant members of the group determined from data from nuclear genes and on the basis of the study of the fossil record of the group. Redescription and a study on the affinities of Palmoxylon santarosense, P. rionegrense and P. valchetense from the Allen Formation (Argentina) is published by Vera (2026). Kumar et al. (2026) identify fossil material of Callistemonites from the Deccan Intertrappean Beds (India) as rachillae of members of Arecaceae.
Basal eudicots
Superasterids
Cornales
Ericales
Gentianales
Icacinales
Lamiales
Solanales
Superasterid research Lu et al. (2026) study the fossil material of Nyssa sibirica from the Pliocene strata from the Yuxi Basin (Yunnan, China) and reconstruct the geographic distribution of tupelos throughout their evolutionary history, interpreting the species belonging to this genus as originating in warm and humid environments, with their distribution contracting as a result of climate cooling during the Neogene. González-Ramírez, Deanna & Smith (2026) reconstruct the evolutionary history of Solanaceae on the basis of data from extant and fossil taxa, reporting evidence of Late Cretaceous origin of the group.
Superrosids
Fabales
Fagales
Malpighiales
Malvales
Myrtales
Oxalidales
Rosales
Sapindales
Saxifragales
Vitales
Zygophyllales
Superrosid research Velasco-Flores et al. (2026) report the discovery of stem fossils of Euphorbia canariensis from the Pleistocene (Chibanian) strata of the Diego Hernández Formation (Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain), preserved in their original distribution as a result of volcanic eruption, and representing the first record of fossils attributed to this species. Lu et al. (2026) study the affinities of Albizia fossil leaflets from the Miocene strata from the Xiangyang Coal Mine (Yunnan, China), and interpret them as indicative of presence of ancestors of Albizia julibrissin in southwest China during or before the late Miocene. Krejčíř et al. (2026) describe silicified oak wood (most closely resembling members of the genus Trigonobalanus) from the Menilite Formation (Czech Republic) associated with termite coprolites and microscopic fungal structures, and interpret the studied wood as consistent with presence of evergreen broad–leaved forests during the Oligocene. Sobek et al. (2026) redescribe the type material of Fagus haidingeri. Ali et al. (2026) report the discovery of fossil material of cf. Backhousia sp. from the Eocene strata of the Palana Formation (India), representing the first fossil record a member of this genus outside Australia.
Other eudicots
Other angiosperms
General angiosperm research Evidence from the study of the fossil record and molecular clock analysis, interpreted as indicative of Late Jurassic origin of flowering plants, is presented by Wu et al. (2026). Evidence of early Albian age of the early angiosperm herbaceous assemblage from the Frentsevka Formation (Primorsky Krai, Russia) is presented by Golovneva et al. (2026). Lee et al. (2026) report the discovery of a diverse assemblage of fossil diaspores from the Campanian strata of the Jose Creek Formation (McRae Group; New Mexico, United States), interpreted as indicative of evolution of diverse dispersal strategies of flowering plants during the Cretaceous. Song et al. (2026) describe a flower of Tropidogyne cf. pentaptera from the Cretaceous amber from Myanmar preserved with four instead of five tepals, providing evidence of variability of floral organ number in mid-Cretaceous eudicots.
Other plants
Other plant research A study on the morphology of the stem apex of Medullosa stellata, interpreted as indicative of presence of a complex vascular system, as well as indicating that members of Medullosales differed in stem development from the majority of extant seed plants, is presented by Portailler & Luthardt (2026). New fossil material of Pinnagigantonoclea guizhouensis, providing evidence of its creeping habit, is described from the Permian Upper Shihhotse/Shangshihezi Formation (Henan, China) by Li et al. (2026). Pratt et al. (2026) synonymize Carboniferous taxa Cordaites grandifolius, Noeggerathia flabellata and Ginkgophyllum delvalii under the name Ginkgophytopsis flabellata. Jiang et al. (2026) interpret the morphology of Fengweioxylon sinense as consistent with the interpretation of the studied plant as an evergreen tree with a 3–5 year leaf retention period, growing in environment with warm summer conditions, and interpret the morphology of corystosperms as consistent with their placement as intermediate between gymnosperms and flowering plants. D'Rozario, Rößler & Yang (2026) describe ovules of members of Cardiocarpales from the Permian (Lopingian) strata of the Xuanwei Formation (Yunnan, China), preserved within the ground tissue of a Psaronius housuoensis and providing possible evidence of a close ecological relationship between the two plants. Nosova & Zavialova (2026) provide new information on the anatomy of seeds of Allicospermum angrenicum from the Middle Jurassic Angren Formation (Uzbekistan), including evidence of preservation of pollen interpreted as suggestive of cycadalean affinities of the studied plant. Jiang et al. (2026) use stomatal parameters and carbon isotope composition of cuticles of Ginkgoites and Czekanowskia from the Yanan Formation (China) to reconstruct CO2 concentrations, local temperature and elevation during the Aalenian, interpreted as consistent with the studied plants growing in a basin or low mountainous terrain with a warm, humid climate. Zhao, Huang & Cai (2026) identify pollen diagnostic of Erdtmanithecales associated with Pelretes vivificus and members of the genus Parallelothrips from the Cretaceous amber from Myanmar, indicative of pollination of Cretaceous Erdtmanithecales by both thrips and kateretid beetles. Zhao et al. (2026) report the discovery of kateretid and sap beetle specimens from the Cretaceous amber from Myanmar associated with dense aggregations of Eucommiidites pollen grains, interpreted as evidence of pollination of members of Erdtmanithecales by insects.
Palynology
Palynological research Bek et al. (2026) report evidence of distribution of early cryptospores and trilete spores in Ordovician and Silurian temperate zones with average temperatures similar to those of present-day tropical belt, and interpret their fossil record as suggestive of similar physiological thermal tolerance in early and extant plants. Wellman et al. (2026) describe the Devonian spore assemblages from the Portilla and Candás formations (Spain), and interpret spores from the latter formation as indicative of presence of a flora dominated by arborescent archaeopteridaleans and aneurophytaleans. Gutiérrez et al. (2026) study the composition of the first palynological assemblage recovered from the Permian (probably Lopingian) strata of the upper member of the La Golondrina Formation (Argentina), providing evidence of presence of a forest dominated by members of Glossopteridales, with undergrowth including ferns, sphenophytes, lycophytes and bryophytes. Evidence from the study of the palynological record from the Jiyuan Basin in the southern part of the North China Plate, indicative of four distinct phases of terrestrial vegetation transition across the Carnian pluvial episode that were temporally linked with indicators of volcanic activity and were accompanied by climate changes, is presented by Zhang et al. (2026). Sajjadi Hezaveh & Hashemi-Yazdi (2026) publish two studies on the composition of the plant assemblages from the Triassic (Rhaetian) strata of the Qadir Member of the Nayband Formation (Iran) as indicated by the composition of assemblages of spores and pollen, interpreted as indicative of affinities of the studied flora with both floras from northern Gondwana and with ones from southern Laurasia. Vilas-Boas et al. (2026) study the composition of Late Triassic and Early Jurassic palynological assemblages from the Algarve and Lusitanian basins (Portugal), providing evidence of overall dominance of xerophytic plants across both basins, as well as evidence of links of studied assemblages with floras from the western Tethyan margin and North America, and report malformed sporomorphs interpreted as evidence of environmental impact of Central Atlantic magmatic province activity. Rosin et al. (2026) study the composition of the palynological assemblages from the Westbury, Lilstock and Redcar Mudstone formations in the Cheshire Basin (United Kingdom), recording changes of composition of vegetation in response to environmental changes during the latest Triassic and Early Jurassic. A study on spores and pollen grains from the Schandelah-1 core (Germany), providing evidence of increased occurrence of malformed pollen grains and shifts in the composition of the palynofloral assemblage indicative of ecological stress during the Toarcian hyperthermal event, is published by Galasso, Foster & van de Schootbrugge (2026). Yang et al. (2026) report evidence from multiproxy analyses (including the study of palynological assemblages) of continental succession from the Junggar Basin (China) indicative of a shift from fern groundcover to conifer canopy during the Jenkyns Event and of recovery of ferns after the event, as well as indicative of a more humid climate with reduced monsoon seasonality that reduced wildfire activity during the Jenkyns Event. Evidence from the study of palynological assemblages from the Qaidam Basin (China), indicative of vegetation changes during the Middle Jurassic linked to a shift from a humid to more arid climate that was related to reduced obliquity, is presented by Tang et al. (2026). Evidence from the study of palynological assemblages from the Upper Jurassic strata from the Binalud Mountains (Iran), indicative of increase in the abundance and diversity of warm-adapted cheirolepid conifers over time in response to a regional warming, is presented by Kalanat (2026). Hofmann et al. (2026) interpret Gemmatricolpites from the Lower Cretaceous Araripe Basin (Brazil) as likely to be pollen of representatives of an extinct lineage of Aquifoliales originating from northern Gondwana as subsequently reaching a cosmopolitan distribution until the Eocene. Buratti et al. (2026) study the composition of palynological assemblages from the Gorgo a Cerbara section (Barremian–Aptian transition; Italy), and report evidence of presence of pollen Afropollis cf. jardinus representing one of the earliest records of flowering plants in the Tethyan realm. Zhang et al. (2026) study the composition of palynological assemblages from the Jiufengshan Formation (Dayangshu Basin, China), and report evidence of increase of taxonomic richness of the flowering plants in the studied area during the Aptian. Carvalho et al. (2026) reconstruct the composition of Aptian assemblages of spore-producing plants from the south Atlantic margin and their responses to environmental changes at the time of the opening of the southern Atlantic Ocean on the basis of the study of palynological assemblages from eight Brazilian sedimentary basins. Evidence from the study of palynological assemblages from Codó and Itapecuru formations, indicative of changes of composition of plant assemblages in northeastern Brazil in response to climate and moisture variability during the late Aptian, is presented by Correia et al. (2026). Lorente (2026) calculates the biomass of Cenomanian conifers in the eastern North America and the amount of their dispersed pollen on the basis of the study of the fossil record from the Arlington Archosaur Section (Woodbine Group; Texas, United States) and comparisons with extant conifers. Evidence from the study of spores, pollen and microcharcoal abundances from Paleogene sediments from a hydrothermal vent crater in the North Atlantic Igneous Province on the Norwegian Margin and from other mid- and high latitude continental margins, indicative of rapid vegetation and soil disturbances in response to environmental changes at the onset of the Paleocene–Eocene thermal maximum resulting in widespread appearance of fern-dominated pioneer vegetation across mid- and high-latitude regions of the world, is presented by Nelissen et al. (2026). Raynaud et al. (2026) reconstruct the composition of the Eocene plant assemblage from the embrithopod-bearing Bultu-Zile site (Meryemdere Formation; Turkey) on the basis of the study of the freshwater-deposited palynoflora from the site, and interpreted as indicative of a swamp-freshwater environment. Barreda et al. (2026) study the composition of the palynological assemblage from the Río Pichileufú locality (Huitrera Formation, Argentina), providing evidence of presence of a middle Eocene flora dominated by gymnosperms and Nothofagaceae, and including fossil pollen representing the oldest record of the crown group of Barnadesioideae reported to date. Moseri et al. (2026) reconstruct changes of vegetation in southwestern South Africa during the Oligocene-Miocene transition on the basis of palynological record from the Elandsfontyn Formation. Evidence from the study of palynological assemblages from the Miocene El Chacay Formation (Argentina) indicative of increase in floral diversity during the early Burdigalian before the onset of the Middle Miocene Climatic Optimum is presented by Tapia et al. (2026). Pound et al. (2026) study the Miocene (Serravallian) palynoflora from the Kenslow Member of the Brassington Formation (United Kingdom), interpreted as fossil record of plant growing in an area with an oceanic type climate with more rainfall during the summer than the winter (but with no pronounced dry season), and report evidence of impact of seasonal changes of availability of moisture on the composition of the studied Miocene forest. Evidence from the study of the palynological assemblage from the Cessaniti site in southern Italy, indicative of presence of a taxonomically diverse and structurally complex mangrove forest during the Tortonian, is presented by Niccolini & Bertini (2026). Li et al. (2026) report evidence from the study of the palynological record from the East China Sea continental shelf spanning the past 71,000 years indicative of presence of a cool, dry temperate grassland biome during the lowstand intervals (including the Last Glacial Maximum), as well as evidence of presence of an open-forest landscape during the milder conditions of the Marine Isotope Stage 3, and interpret their findings as supporting the interpretation of the exposed East China Sea continental shelf as a habitat facilitating the initial dispersal of early modern humans into East Asia. Evidence from the study of pollen record from eastern Nanling Mountains, indicative of impact of climate changes (and, since the late Holocene, human activities) on the composition of vegetation in the studied area during the last 46,000 years, as well as of existence of cool and humid refugia in subtropical China during the Last Glacial Maximum, is presented by Quan et al. (2026). Morley et al. (2026) reconstruct the distribution of spruce, poplar and willow in northern Alaska (United States) during the last 20,000 years on the basis of pollen preserved in lake cores, reporting evidence of decline of spruce presence in the region between 16,000 and 11,000 years ago, its persistence in a single locality during this time interval and subsequent recovery.
General research Cai et al. (2026) report evidence of a shift in organic carbon to total phosphorus ratios in marine siliciclastic strata from approximately 455 million years ago, interpreted as likely linked to the spread of early land plants during the Ordovician. Lu et al. (2026) review evidence of impact of successive phases of plant terrestrialization on global coal accumulation. Cooper & Hetherington (2026) study the sporophytes of Aglaophyton majus, Rhynia gwynne-vaughanii, Trichopherophyton teuchansii and Asteroxylon mackiei from the Devonian Rhynie chert (United Kingdom), and find no evidence of presence of true phloem in early plants with xylem. Evidence of widespread presence of diterpenoid-rich surface resins in cuticles of coal-forming plants from the Devonian (Givetian) strata of the Haikou and Hujiersite formations (China) is presented by Song et al. (2026). The oldest amber reported to date, likely produced by non-seed plants but sharing chemical components comparable with coniferous ambers, is described from the Devonian (Givetian) strata of the Hujiersite Formation (Xinjiang, China) by Luo et al. (2026). Meyer-Berthaud, Young & Decombeix (2026) document a new assemblage of Devonian (Frasnian) plants from the Hervey Group (New South Wales, Australia), similar in composition to Frasnian plant assemblages from south China. Evidence from the study of Devonian megafossil plant localities from the Catskill Mountains in New York and Pennsylvania (United States), interpreted as indicative of mass extinction among plants during the Late Devonian mass extinction, is presented by Retallack & Guo (2026). A study on the affinities of early gymnospermous seeds and their evolutionary history from the late Devonian to the late Permian is published by Bateman, Spencer & Hilton (2026). A study on the composition of the Carboniferous (late Pennsylvanian) plant assemblage from the Scisti e Arenarie di Iano Formation (Italy), interpreted as indicative of humid conditions with episodic marine influence, is published by Foggetti et al. (2026). Santos et al. (2026) study the composition of the Permian plant assemblage from the Costela Mine locality (Pedra de Fogo Formation, Brazil) dominated by callipterid peltasperms, interpreted as indicative of biogeographic links with early Permian plant assemblages from Euramerica, and report evidence of plant-arthropod interactions and plant disease in fossils from the studied assemblage. Negri & Toledo (2026) review evidence of mutualistic relationships between insects and gymnosperms before the emergence of flowering plants. A diverse assemblage of plant cuticles and spores, providing evidence of presence of conifers, members of Peltaspermales and lycophytes, is reported from the Permian (Kungurian) strata from the Gorl locality in the Athesian Volcanic District (Italy) by Delfosse-Allain et al. (2026). Jalfin et al. (2026) study changes of taxonomic diversity and community structure of the riparian forest known from fossil from the La Golondrina Formation (Argentina) during the Permian, reporting evidence of peak diversity in the Guadalupian and major ecological disruption near the Guadalupian–Lopingian transition. A study on gymnosperm wood preserved as charcoal from the Madygen Formation (Kyrgyzstan), providing evidence of wildfire in the studied area near the Ladinian–Carnian transition, is published by Spiekermann et al. (2026). Review of the composition of the Late Triassic (Carnian) flora from the Cave del Predil/Raibl (Italy) is published by Slodownik, Branz & Kustatscher (2026). Fang et al. (2026) report evidence of acid rains coinciding with the Central Atlantic magmatic province volcanism during the Triassic-Jurassic transition, as well as evidence of critical destruction of plant biomass in terrestrial basins during the Triassic–Jurassic extinction that was likely linked to acid rains. Gou et al. (2026) reconstruct the structure of the canopy-forming tree assemblage from the gymnosperm-dominated Yiwu Jurassic Forest known from the Middle Jurassic strata of the Xishanyao Formation (Xinjiang, China), and report evidence of higher productivity of the studied forest compared to modern temperate conifer forests. Foster et al. (2026) provide estimates of height and mass of giant trees preserved as fossil logs from the Morrison Formation (western United States), and interpret the presence of these trees in western North America during the Late Jurassic as suggestive of long-term climatic cyclicity including both periods of arid conditions and periods of humid ones. Evidence from the study of fossil plants from the Lower Cretaceous Jinju Formation (South Korea), indicative of presence of a temperate intermontane savanna in the studied area during the Albian, is presented by Lee, Kim & Looy (2026). Vršanský et al. (2026) interpret the composition of fossil assemblages of dictyopteran insects from Russia and Australia as indicative of presence of high-latitude forests with tall tree canopies during the Cretaceous. A study on the composition of the Cenomanian plant assemblage from the strata of the Utrillas Group from the Algora area (Guadalajara, Spain) is published by Sender, Bueno-Cebollada & Pérez-García (2026). A new, diverse plant assemblage, providing evidence of presence of a mixed angiosperm-conifer woodland ecosystem, is described from the Turonian–Coniacian strata of the Moreno Hill Formation (New Mexico, United States) by Cilliers et al. (2026). Greenwood & Conran (2026) review the fossil record of Cenozoic plants from the Kati Thanda–Lake Eyre, Woomera and northern deserts region of South Australia. Taxonomic revision of the Oligocene (Chattian) flora from the La Val fossil site (Spain) is published by Moreno-Domínguez et al. (2026). A study on the composition of the early Miocene plant assemblages known from leaf material from West Akrocheiras (Lesvos Petrified Forest, Greece) is published by Liapi et al. (2026). Stiles et al. (2026) reconstruct climate changes and vegetation in the Upper Magdalena River Valley region (Colombia) during the middle and late Miocene, reporting evidence of surface cooling that exceeded global estimates, as well as evidence of presence of closed-canopy forests with increasing vegetation density. Schartman, Polissar & Strömberg (2026) reconstruct the development of savannas in northwest Africa during the Miocene, reporting evidence of development of a C3 grass-rich savanna during the middle Miocene, and its gradual replacement by the C4 savanna in the late Miocene. A study on the composition of the Miocene (Serravallian) plant assemblage from the Wolf clay pit in Graz-Andritz (Styrian Basin; Austria), interpreted as indicative of temperate climate without a pronounced dry period during the year, is published by Denk et al. (2026). Wang et al. (2026) reconstruct the plant-insect interactions in the late Miocene Tatsumi-toge biota on the basis of the study of damage of fossil plants from the Ningyo-toge Formation (Japan) and comparisons with modern relatives of insects from the studied biota, reporting evidence of predominance of generalist insects that might have been linked to the late Miocene cooling and related environmental changes, and evidence of ecological stability of the Tatsumi-toge biota. Góis-Marques et al. (2026) describe lava tree moulds from the San Roque locality, representing the oldest plant fossils from Tenerife (Canary Islands) reported to date, and providing evidence of presence of a forest ecosystem on Tenerife during the Pliocene. A new, diverse assemblage of Plio-Pleistocene plants is described from the Kon Tum Formation (Vietnam) by Wang et al. (2026). Allaby et al. (2026) reconstruct the environment of the Southern River system in southern Doggerland on the basis of sedimentological and sedimentary ancient DNA, and report evidence of presence of temperate trees indicative of presence of northern refugia during the early Mesolithic. Evidence from the study of the fossil flora from the Quaternary tufas of the western Potiguar Basin (Brazil), indicative of a shift from a humid tropical environment supporting a mesophytic forest to the modern Caatinga biome, is presented by Aureliano et al. (2026). Evidence from the study of modern leaves from swamp and river margins, indicating that studies that use fossil leaves as paleoclimate proxy and do not take into account the reduction of size of leaves from the surface litter and buried litter might result in underestimation of precipitation, is presented by Brown et al. (2026).
Deaths Eminent U.S. paleobotanist David Dilcher dies. Dilcher was a National Academy of Science member, twice a Guggenheim Fellow, and a past president of the Botanical Society of America.
References