FOSSIL FLORA FROM PALEOGENE SEDIMENTS OF THE SERTA LOCALITY IN THE TIKVEŠ BASIN, REPUBLIC OF NORTH MACEDONIA

Abstract

The Tikveš Paleogene basin is located in the central part of the territory of Macedonia and belongs to the central part of the Vardar zone. The flora collected in the sandstone-clay sediments from the lower flysch litho-zone from the Serta locality (Tikveš basin) has been recorded and described for the first time in Macedonia. One species from the fossil flora has been identified as Equisetum parlatorii. These new findings provide information on the past and present distribution and history of Equisetum and exemplify the importance of biogeographic and evolutionary processes in the geological past. As one of the reasons for the reduction in the size of today's Equisetum from the recent vegetation, the significant climatic changes that were the result of the Himalayan orogeny during the Late Miocene are assumed.