The Plant Fossils of the Carnian (Late Triassic) Polzberg Konservat-Lagerstätte in Austria

Abstract The Upper TriassicPolzberg Konservat-Lagerstätte (Lower Austria) yields a diversefossil assemblage from the Reingraben Formation, deposited during the Carnian Pluvial Episode (CPE). While the site is renowned for its diverse marine fauna, bed-by-bed collections and a revision of historical specimens also reveal a small but informative macroflora. Ninety-two plantfossils were examined, of which 77 could be assigned to major taxonomic groups. The assemblage is dominated by conifers, mainly Brachyphyllum , Pagiophyllum , and Pelourdea , with rare Elatocladus and several indeterminate reproductive organs. The preservation is generally good, yielding cuticles in some of the conifer remains, despite likely long-distance transport from emergent landmasses into the intraplatform basin. The Polzberg macroflora contrasts sharply with the coeval, swamp-dominated Lunz flora and with the rich, diverse local palynoflora, both of which indicate a wider spectrum of hygrophytic and mesophytic taxa. This disparity reflects the combined effects of taphonomic selection and bias of robust elements. Our results highlight the need to integrate macrofossil, palynological, and sedimentological data when reconstructing terrestrial vegetation from marine settings.