Nelumbo fossils from the Miocene deposits of Dobrzyń nad Wisłą, Central Poland

•Amomum europaeum infructescence, a putative fossil Zingiberaceae is revised.•The species Amomum europaeum is transferred to Nelumbo protospeciosa.•Estimations suggest paleoenvironmental conditions favourable for Nelumbo.•The results contribute in clarifying the systematics of European Cenozoic Zingiberaceae.

The classification of the Zingiberaceae infructescence of Amomum europaeum Kownas from a classic Miocene locality in Dobrzyń nad Wisłą (Central Poland) is revised. Superficially, A. europaeum resembles recent Amomum and Etlingera infructescences in shape and size. However, no other features link A. europaeum to Zingiberaceae. A re-examination of all visible structures reveals that these A. europaeum remains represent the horizontally-flattened receptacle (‘gynobase’) of Nelumbo (Nelumbonaceae). Miocene paleoclimatic and paleoecological conditions in Dobrzyń were similar to those of modern Nelumbo habitats, which supports the new interpretation.