This is an overview of the of the Eocene Messel Formation as explored by the Messel Pit excavations in Germany. A former quarry and now UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Messel Formation preserves what lived in and around a meromictic lake surrounded by a paratropical rainforest during the latest early to earliest middle Eocene, approximately 47 Ma. A complete list of plant taxa was published in 2024.
Several major monographs on the paleoflora have been published since the early 1900s, with producing the first leaf monograph in 1922, followed by Heidemarie Thiele-Pfeiffer in 1988 who provided the first in-depth palynological revision and expansion. Margaret Collinson, Steven Manchester, and Volker Wilde collaborated to study and redescribe the flowers, fruits, seeds, and other reproductive organs of the formation, with the monograph being published in 2011. Most recently, Johannes Bouchal, Christian Geier, Friđgeir Grímsson and colleagues have completed monographic studies of the palynomorphs, combining traditional light microscopy with scanning electron microscopy to achieve greater phylogenetic precision.
Dinoflagellates Only a single dinoflagellate taxon has been described formally from the Messel formation. Based on the predominance in layers where heavy nearshore runoff or slippage is present, its suggested Messelodinium thielepfeifferae was likely an inhabitant of warm nearshore waters in the adult stage or wind and wave action resulted in large accumulation of the cysts. M. thielepfeifferae populations are most prevalent in the older layers of the lake, when it was suggested to be holomictic and become absent in the youngest layers when green algae become dominant with the lake shifting to meromictic conditions and the water chemistry changed.
Family Genus Species Authority Notes ImagePeridiniaceae†Messelodinium†Messelodinium thielepfeifferaeLenz et al., 2007A peridinialean dinoflagellate.
Charophyta Olaf Lenz et al (2011) briefly noted the presence of the Zygnemataceae fossil genus Ovoidites, but only gave general population densities with no enumeration on species information. Family Genus Species Authority Notes ImageZygnemataceae†OvoiditesUndescribedA minor Charophyte green algae component of the Messel Formation.
Chlorophyta Several chlorophyte green algae are identified from the Messel Formation, with the greatest concentrations being found in the youngest layers. In the older layers Tetraedron minimum is a distinct component of the yearly varves in the lake, with large blooms occurring to form the lighter summer portions of the varve couplets. In the younger layers, Botryococcus species become the most prolific, having taken over as a major phytoplankton taxon from T. minimum and the dinoflagellate Messelodinium thielepfeifferae.
Family Genus Species Authority Notes ImageBotryococcaceaeBotryococcusBotryococcus brauniiKützingA chlorophyte green algae.PeridiniaceaeTetraedronTetraedron minimum(A. Braun) HansgirgA chlorophyte green algae The main component in the spring/summer layers of the Messel varves.
Pteridophytes Family Genus Species Authority Notes ImageAspleniaceaeAspleniumAsplenium sp.Fern pinnules attributed to Asplenium Not identified to species
Conifers Family Genus Species Authority Notes ImageDoliostrobaceae†Doliostrobus†Doliostrobus taxiformis(Sternberg) Z. Kvaček emend. KunzmannA conifer of possible cupressaceous affinitiesPodocarpaceae†Podozamites†Podozamites eocaenicaEngelhardtPossible podocarpaceous foliage First suggested as a cyacad speciesTaxaceaeCephalotaxus†Cephalotaxus messelensisWildeA plum yew species
Basal angiosperms Nymphaeales Family Genus Species Authority Notes ImageNymphaeaceae†Nuphaea†Nuphaea engelhardtiiGee & Taylor, 2018A transitional nymphaealean water lily genusIncertae sedisIncertae sedisIncertae sedisSeeds of possible nymphaealean affinityNot identified to species
Magnoliids Laurales Family Genus Species Authority Notes Image Lauraceae†Laurocarpum†Laurocarpum sp.Seeds of lauraceous affinity 3 unnamed morphospecies †Laurophyllum†Laurophyllum lanigeroides(Engelhardt) WildeA lauraceous leaf morphotaxon host to two forms of asphondyliine tribe midge gallsincertae sedisincertae sedisSeeds of lauraceous affinity not identified to genus/species
Magnoliales Family Genus Species Authority Notes Image Magnoliaceae MagnoliaMagnolia sp.A Magnolia species fruitNot identified to species Magnolia sp.Magnolia species seeds not identified to species Myristicaceae†MyristicacarpumMyristicacarpum sp.A Myristicacarpum species seedNot identified to species
Monocots Alismatales Family Genus Species Authority Notes Image Araceae †Araciphyllites†Araciphyllites tertiarius(Engelhardt) Wilde, Z. Kvaček & Bogner, 2005An araceous leaf †Araciphyllites schaarschmidtiiWilde, Z. Kvaček & Bogner, 2005An araceous leaf †Caladiosoma†Caladiosoma messelenseWilde, Z. Kvaček & Bogner, 2005An araceous leaf
Arecales Family Genus Species Authority Notes Image ArecaceaeArecocaryonArecocaryon messelensis(Collinson, Manchester, & Wilde) DoweldPalm species fruitsFirst described as Friedemannia messelensis, a genus jr homonymMoved to Arecocaryon messelensis in 2021 The most abundant fruit at Messel known from a full flower to mature fruit ontogenetic series†CalamopsisCf. †Calamopsis bredanaA Palm leafPossibly affiliated with C. bredana Incertae sedisincertae sedisPinnate palm leaves of possible lepidocaryoid tribal affinity.Not identified to speciesincertae sedisPalmate palm leaves of uncertain tribal affinity.Not identified to species
Liliales Family Genus Species Authority Notes Image Smilacaceae Smilax†Smilax grandifoliaUngerA greenbrier †Smilax lingulataHeerA greenbrier †Smilax ovataWess.A greenbrier †Smilax reticulataHeerA greenbrier
Pandanales Family Genus Species Authority Notes ImageCyclanthaceaeCyclanthusCyclanthus messelensisS. Y. Smith, Collinson & Rudall, 2008A Cyclanthus speciesDescribed from fruits and seeds
Poales Family Genus Species Authority Notes ImageCyperaceae†Volkeria†Volkeria messelensisSmith et al., 2009A mapanioid sedgePoaceaePhragmites†Phragmites oeningensisA.Braun ex HeerA grass foliage
Basal eudicots Proteales Family Genus Species Authority Notes ImageSabiaceaeMeliosmaMeliosma sp.A Meliosma species seedNot identified to species
Ranunculales Family Genus Species Authority Notes Image MenispermaceaeCocculus†Cocculus lottiiCollinson, Manchester, & Wilde, 2012A Cocculus species endocarpDiploclisia†Diploclisia rugulosaCollinson, Manchester, & Wilde, 2012A Diploclisia species seed†Karinschmidtia†Karinschmidtia rotulaeCollinson, Manchester, & Wilde, 2012A menispermaceous endocarp†Martinmuellera†Martinmuellera tuberculataCollinson, Manchester, & Wilde, 2012A menispermaceous genus seed †Palaeosinomenium†Palaeosinomenium ornamentumCollinson, Manchester, & Wilde, 2012A menispermaceous endocarp†Palaeosinomenium venablesiiChandler, 1961A menispermaceous endocarp First described from the English Eocene (1961)†Palaeosinomenium sp.A menispermaceous endocarpNot identified to speciesParabaena†Cf. Parabaena europaeaA menispermaceous endocarp Fossil similar to P. europaeaNot identified to species?Pericampylus?Pericampylus sp.A tentative Pericampylus species endocarp.not described to speciesStephania†Stephania hootaeCollinson, Manchester, & Wilde, 2012A Stephania species seed†Tinomiscoidea†Tinomiscoidea jacquesiiCollinson, Manchester, & Wilde, 2012A menispermaceous endocarp†Wardensheppeya†Wardensheppeya sp.A menispermaceous endocarpNot identified to speciesincertae sedisincertae sedismenispermaceous endocarp of Tinosporeae subfamily affinity3 morphotypes not identified to genus/species
Superasterids Campanulids Family Genus Species Authority Notes ImageTorricelliaceaeToricellia †Toricellia bonesii (Manchester) ManchesterA Toricellia species.Endocarp with germination valve
Cornales Family Genus Species Authority Notes ImageAlangiaceaeAlangium Alangium sp. An Alangium species likely belonging to Alangium sect. Marlea.Not identified to species Identified from single endocarp, others likely in Messel collections CornaceaeCornus†Cornus orbifera HeerA dogwood species NyssaceaeCf. †Beckettia incertae sedis A germination valve similar to Beckettia Not identified to species †Eomastixia Cf. Eomastixia rugosa An endocarp similar to Eomastixia rugosa Not identified to species ?Mastixia incertae sedis A possible Mastixia endocarp and mesocarpPossibly included in a coprolite Not identified to species †Mastixiopsis †Mastixiopsis nyssoides KirchheimerA nyssaceous endocarp Nyssa †Nyssa disseminata (R. Ludw.) KirchheimerA nyssaceous endocarp with germination valve†Nyssa europaeaUngerA nyssaceous species†Nyssa ornithobromaUngerA nyssaceous species
Ericales Family Genus Species Authority Notes ImagePentaphylacaceaeCleyera incertae sedis A Cleyera species.Not identified to speciesSymplocaceaeSymplocos†Symplocos minutula(Sternberg) KirchheimerA Symplocos species fruit.Theaceae†Camelliacarpoidea †Camelliacarpoidea messelensis Collinson, Manchester, & WildeA theaceous species.A dry fruit with persistent calyx
Lamiids Family Genus Species Authority Notes ImageApocynaceae†Cypselites incertae sedis A Cypselites speciesElongated seed with wind dispersal hairs.Not identified to species, 11 specimens known Bignoniaceae†Darmstadtia Darmstadtia biseriata A catalpa species. Pods with dry seeds lacking wind dispersal wings Described from2 specimens Icacinaceae †Palaeohosiea †Palaeohosiea bilinica (Ettingshausen) Kvaček & BůžekA phytocrenaceous species.known from endocarpsincertae sedis A Palaeohosiea endocarp.Not identified to speciesCleyera incertae sedis Collinson, Manchester, & WildeA Cleyera species.Not identified to species †Icacinicarya Icacinicarya densipunctata Collinson, Manchester, & WildeAn icacinaceous species.Icacinicarya tiffneyi Collinson, Manchester, & WildeAn icacinaceous species. endocarp with a preserved layer of soft tissueincertae sedis An Icacinicarya endocarp.Not identified to speciesCf. Natsiatum incertae sedis An endocarp similar to Natsiatum.Not identified to species†Palaeophytocrene incertae sedis A Palaeophytocrene endocarp.Not identified to speciesPhytocrene †Phytocrene punctilinearis Collinson, Manchester, & WildeA Phytocrene species. Pyrenacantha "Species 1" Collinson, Manchester, & WildeAn unnamed Pyrenacantha species. endocarp with a preserved layer of soft tissue"Species 2" Collinson, Manchester, & WildeAn unnamed Pyrenacantha species. endocarp without a preserved layer of soft tissueCf. Pyrenacantha incertae sedis Collinson, Manchester, & WildeAn endocarp similar to Pyrenacantha.not identified to species
Superrosids Fabids