A new flora from the Upper Permian of Bletterbach (Dolomites, N-Italy)

A new fossiliferous horizon from the famous Bletterbach area is described. The new megafossil locality of late Permian age yields well-preserved plant megafossils, as well as cuticles and in situ pollen. In the flora representatives of the horsetails, seed ferns (Sphenopteris, Lepidopteris, Peltaspermum), putative cycadophytes (two types of Taeniopteris), ginkgophytes (three different leaf types) and conifers (Ortiseia, Pseudovoltzia, Quadrocladus, Pagiophyllum) were distinguished. Remains of doubtful botanical attribution comprise Dicranophyllum-like leaves and Leptostrobus-type of female fructifications as well as permineralized wood and charcoal. Remains of lycophytes reported from the Bletterbach cannot be confirmed. Some of these groups are recorded for the first time from the Bletterbach.

► A new flora is discussed from the famous Permian Bletterbach area.
► The plant megafossils are well preserved with cuticles and in situ pollen.
► Putative cycadophytes and sphenopterids are described for the first time.
► Three different ginkgophytes leaf types are distinguished on macromorphology.
► Remains of lycophytes reported from the Bletterbach cannot be confirmed.