The Renardodden flora of Spitsbergen

Abstract

The Renardodden flora combines fossil plants from the Skilvika and Renardodden formations of the Renardodden and Scottbreen areas south of Bellsund, the Sesshøgda Formation (Prins Karls Forland) and the Sarstangen conglomerate (Sarsbukta area). We considered them as representing a single fossil flora, because floristic assemblages from these four stratigraphic units contain a large number of common species. The Renardodden flora includes approximately 30 species of conifers and angiosperms. Angiosperms predominate and are represented by the families Platanaceae, Cercidiphyllaceae, Trochodendraceae, Hamamelidaceae, Betulaceae, Cornaceae, Tiliaceae, Aceraceae, and several taxa of an uncertain taxonomic position. Monocots are represented by two aquatic plants: Haemanthophyllum nordenskioldii and Acorus spitsbergensis. A new combination Zizyphoides retusa (Heer) Golovn. et Zolina, comb. nov. is proposed. The Renardodden flora is characterized by a high endemism and has no distinct floristic connections with other arctic and boreal floras. The age of the Renardodden flora is estimated as the late Eocene.