The pyroclastic rocks of the Lesvos Petrified Forest in the North Aegean
comprise one of the early Miocene’s most imposing megaflora assemblage.
In this area, the new outcrop of Akrocheiras yielded numerous leaf
compressions. Based on their macroscopic characteristics, we identified
a total of sixteen different taxa, most of them of palaeotropical
origin. Dominant species are Daphnogene polymorpha, Pungiphyllum
cruciatum and Phoenicites sp., represented by more than 50% of the
specimens. Several taxa are new for the Neogene palaeobotanical record
of Lesvos Island, such as Laurophyllum sp. 1, Smilax weberi, Celtis
japeti, div. Juglandaceae, Ilex miodipyrena, cf. Ilex sp. and
Apocynophyllum sp., and provide new floristic data for the area.
According to the vegetation analysis, the plant assemblage of
Akrocheiras site assigned to lowland/riparian and mesophytic forests on
well drained soils. The palaeoclimatic analysis for the new flora
revealed a humid warm-temperate climate with seasonal alternations from
wetter to drier conditions. The floristic characteristics are outlined,
and the record is compared to other ones of the early Miocene period.
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