# Paleoflora of the Messel Formation

This is an overview of the paleoflora 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 Hermann Engelhardt [de] 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 | Image |
| Peridiniaceae | †Messelodinium | †Messelodinium thielepfeifferae | Lenz et al., 2007 | A 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 | Image |
| Zygnemataceae | †Ovoidites | Undescribed | | A 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 | Image |
| Botryococcaceae | Botryococcus | Botryococcus braunii | Kützing | A chlorophyte green algae. | |
| Peridiniaceae | Tetraedron | Tetraedron minimum | (A. Braun) Hansgirg | A chlorophyte green algae The main component in the spring/summer layers of the Messel varves. | |

## Pteridophytes

| Family | Genus | Species | Authority | Notes | Image |
| Aspleniaceae | Asplenium | Asplenium sp. | | Fern pinnuels attributed to Asplenium Not identified to species | |

## Conifers

| Family | Genus | Species | Authority | Notes |
| Doliostrobaceae | †Doliostrobus | †Doliostrobus taxiformis | (Sternberg) Z. Kvaček emend. Kunzmann | A conifer of possible cupressaceous affinities |
| Podocarpaceae | †Podozamites | †Podozamites eocaenica | Engelhardt | Possible podocarpaceous foliage First suggested as a cyacad species |
| Taxaceae | Cephalotaxus | †Cephalotaxus messelensis | Wilde | A plum yew species |

## Basal angiosperms
### Nymphaeales

| Family | Genus | Species | Authority | Notes | Image |
| Nymphaeaceae | †Nuphaea | †Nuphaea engelhardtii | Gee & Taylor, 2018 | A transitional nymphaealean water lily genus | |
| Incertae sedis | Incertae sedis | Incertae sedis | | Seeds of possible nymphaealean affinity Not identified to species |

## Magnoliids
### Laurales

| Family | Genus | Species | Authority | Notes |
| Lauraceae | †Laurocarpum | †Laurocarpum sp. | | Seeds of lauraceous affinity 3 unnamed morphospecies |
| Lauraceae | †Laurophyllum | †Laurophyllum lanigeroides | (Engelhardt) Wilde | A lauraceous leaf morphotaxon host to two forms of asphondyliine tribe midge galls |
| Lauraceae | incertae sedis | incertae sedis | | Seeds of lauraceous affinity not identified to genus/species |

### Magnoliales

| Family | Genus | Species | Notes |
| Magnoliaceae | Magnolia | Magnolia sp. | A Magnolia species fruit Not identified to species |
| Magnoliaceae | Magnolia | Magnolia sp. | Magnolia species seeds not identified to species |
| Myristicaceae | †Myristicacarpum | Myristicacarpum sp. | A Myristicacarpum species seed Not identified to species |

## Monocots
### Alismatales

| Family | Genus | Species | Authority | Notes |
| Araceae | †Araciphyllites | †Araciphyllites tertiarius | (Engelhardt) Wilde, Z. Kvaček & Bogner, 2005 | An araceous leaf |
| Araceae | †Araciphyllites | †Araciphyllites schaarschmidtii | Wilde, Z. Kvaček & Bogner, 2005 | An araceous leaf |
| Araceae | †Caladiosoma | †Caladiosoma messelense | Wilde, Z. Kvaček & Bogner, 2005 | An araceous leaf |

### Arecales

| Family | Genus | Species | Authority | Notes |
| Arecaceae | Arecocaryon | Arecocaryon messelensis | (Collinson, Manchester, & Wilde) Doweld | Palm species fruits First described as Friedemannia messelensis, a genus jr homonym Moved to Arecocaryon messelensis in 2021 The most abundant fruit at Messel known from a full flower to mature fruit ontogenetic series |
| Arecaceae | †Calamopsis | Cf. †Calamopsis bredana | | A Palm leaf Possibly affiliated with C. bredana |
| Arecaceae | Incertae sedis | incertae sedis | | Pinnate palm leaves of possible lepidocaryoid tribal affinity. Not identified to species |
| Arecaceae | Incertae sedis | incertae sedis | | Palmate palm leaves of uncertain tribal affinity. Not identified to species |

### Liliales

| Family | Genus | Species | Authority | Notes |
| Smilacaceae | Smilax | †Smilax grandifolia | Unger | A greenbrier |
| Smilacaceae | Smilax | †Smilax lingulata | Heer | A greenbrier |
| Smilacaceae | Smilax | †Smilax ovata | Wess. | A greenbrier |
| Smilacaceae | Smilax | †Smilax reticulata | Heer | A greenbrier |

### Pandanales

| Family | Genus | Species | Authority | Notes | Image |
| Cyclanthaceae | Cyclanthus | Cyclanthus messelensis | S. Y. Smith, Collinson & Rudall, 2008 | A Cyclanthus species Described from fruits and seeds | |

### Poales

| Family | Genus | Species | Authority | Notes | Image |
| Cyperaceae | †Volkeria | †Volkeria messelensis | Smith et al., 2009 | A mapanioid sedge | |
| Poaceae | Phragmites | †Phragmites oeningensis | A.Braun ex Heer | A grass foliage | |

## Basal eudicots
### Proteales

| Family | Genus | Species | Authority | Notes | Image |
| Sabiaceae | Meliosma | Meliosma sp. | | A Meliosma species seed Not identified to species | |

### Ranunculales

| Family | Genus | Species | Authority | Notes |
| Menispermaceae | Cocculus | †Cocculus lottii | Collinson, Manchester, & Wilde, 2012 | A Cocculus species endocarp |
| Menispermaceae | Diploclisia | †Diploclisia rugulosa | Collinson, Manchester, & Wilde, 2012 | A Diploclisia species seed |
| Menispermaceae | †Karinschmidtia | †Karinschmidtia rotulae | Collinson, Manchester, & Wilde, 2012 | A menispermaceous endocarp |
| Menispermaceae | †Martinmuellera | †Martinmuellera tuberculata | Collinson, Manchester, & Wilde, 2012 | A menispermaceous genus seed |
| Menispermaceae | †Palaeosinomenium | †Palaeosinomenium ornamentum | Collinson, Manchester, & Wilde, 2012 | A menispermaceous endocarp |
| Menispermaceae | †Palaeosinomenium | †Palaeosinomenium venablesii | Chandler, 1961 | A menispermaceous endocarp First described from the English Eocene (1961) |
| Menispermaceae | †Palaeosinomenium | †Palaeosinomenium sp. | | A menispermaceous endocarp Not identified to species |
| Menispermaceae | Parabaena | †Cf. Parabaena europaea | | A menispermaceous endocarp Fossil similar to P. europaea Not identified to species |
| Menispermaceae | ?Pericampylus | ?Pericampylus sp. | | A tentative Pericampylus species endocarp. not described to species |
| Menispermaceae | Stephania | †Stephania hootae | Collinson, Manchester, & Wilde, 2012 | A Stephania species seed |
| Menispermaceae | †Tinomiscoidea | †Tinomiscoidea jacquesii | Collinson, Manchester, & Wilde, 2012 | A menispermaceous endocarp |
| Menispermaceae | †Wardensheppeya | †Wardensheppeya sp. | | A menispermaceous endocarp Not identified to species |
| Menispermaceae | incertae sedis | incertae sedis | | menispermaceous endocarp of Tinosporeae subfamily affinity 3 morphotypes not identified to genus/species |

## Superasterids
### Campanulids

| Family | Genus | Species | Authority | Notes | Image |
| Torricelliaceae | Toricellia | †Toricellia bonesii | (Manchester) Manchester | A Toricellia species. Endocarp with germination valve | |

### Cornales

| Family | Genus | Species | Authority | Notes |
| Alangiaceae | Alangium | Alangium sp. | | An Alangium species likely belonging to Alangium sect. Marlea. Not identified to species Identified from single endocarp, others likely in Messel collections |
| Cornaceae | Cornus | †Cornus orbifera | Heer | A dogwood species |
| Nyssaceae | Cf. †Beckettia | incertae sedis | | A germination valve similar to Beckettia Not identified to species |
| Nyssaceae | †Eomastixia | Cf. Eomastixia rugosa | | An endocarp similar to Eomastixia rugosa Not identified to species |
| Nyssaceae | ?Mastixia | incertae sedis | | A possible Mastixia endocarp and mesocarp Possibly included in a coprolite Not identified to species |
| Nyssaceae | †Mastixiopsis | †Mastixiopsis nyssoides | Kirchheimer | A nyssaceous endocarp |
| Nyssaceae | Nyssa | †Nyssa disseminata | (R. Ludw.) Kirchheimer | A nyssaceous endocarp with germination valve |
| Nyssaceae | Nyssa | †Nyssa europaea | Unger | A nyssaceous species |
| Nyssaceae | Nyssa | †Nyssa ornithobroma | Unger | A nyssaceous species |

### Ericales

| Family | Genus | Species | Authority | Notes |
| Pentaphylacaceae | Cleyera | incertae sedis | | A Cleyera species. Not identified to species |
| Symplocaceae | Symplocos | †Symplocos minutula | (Sternberg) Kirchheimer | A Symplocos species fruit. |
| Theaceae | †Camelliacarpoidea | †Camelliacarpoidea messelensis | Collinson, Manchester, & Wilde | A theaceous species. A dry fruit with persistent calyx |

### Lamiids

| Family | Genus | Species | Authority | Notes |
| Apocynaceae | †Cypselites | incertae sedis | | A Cypselites species Elongated 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 & Bůžek | A phytocrenaceous species. known from endocarps |
| Icacinaceae | †Palaeohosiea | incertae sedis | | A Palaeohosiea endocarp. Not identified to species |
| Icacinaceae | Cleyera | incertae sedis | Collinson, Manchester, & Wilde | A Cleyera species. Not identified to species |
| Icacinaceae | †Icacinicarya | Icacinicarya densipunctata | Collinson, Manchester, & Wilde | An icacinaceous species. |
| Icacinaceae | †Icacinicarya | Icacinicarya tiffneyi | Collinson, Manchester, & Wilde | An icacinaceous species. endocarp with a preserved layer of soft tissue |
| Icacinaceae | †Icacinicarya | incertae sedis | | An Icacinicarya endocarp. Not identified to species |
| Icacinaceae | Cf. Natsiatum | incertae sedis | | An endocarp similar to Natsiatum. Not identified to species |
| Icacinaceae | †Palaeophytocrene | incertae sedis | | A Palaeophytocrene endocarp. Not identified to species |
| Icacinaceae | Phytocrene | †Phytocrene punctilinearis | Collinson, Manchester, & Wilde | A Phytocrene species. |
| Icacinaceae | Pyrenacantha | "Species 1" | Collinson, Manchester, & Wilde | An unnamed Pyrenacantha species. endocarp with a preserved layer of soft tissue |
| Icacinaceae | Pyrenacantha | "Species 2" | Collinson, Manchester, & Wilde | An unnamed Pyrenacantha species. endocarp without a preserved layer of soft tissue |
| Icacinaceae | Cf. Pyrenacantha | incertae sedis | Collinson, Manchester, & Wilde | An endocarp similar to Pyrenacantha. not identified to species |

## Superrosids
### Fabids

| Family | Genus | Species | Authority | Notes |
| Cannabaceae | Aphananthe | Cf. †Aphananthe tenuicostata | | A hemp relative fruit. Similar to Aphananthe tenuicostata |
| Celastraceae | Celastrus | †Celastrus elaenus | Unger | A Celastrus species. |
| Celastraceae | Celastrus | †Celastrus friedrichi | Wonnacott | A Celastrus species. |
| Celastraceae | Celastrus | †Celastrus illicinoides | Engelhardt | A Celastrus species. |
| Celastraceae | Celastrus | †Celastrus oxyphyllus | Unger | A Celastrus species. |
| Celastraceae | Elaeodendron | †Elaeodendron degener | (Unger) Ettingshausen | An Elaeodendron species. |
| Celastraceae | Elaeodendron | †Elaeodendron dryadum | Ettingshausen | An Elaeodendron species. Similar to the living E. orientale |
| Celastraceae | Elaeodendron | †Elaeodendron obovatifolium | Engelhardt | An Elaeodendron species. |
| Celastraceae | Euonymus | †Euonymus heerii | Ettingshausen | A Euonymus species. |
| Elaeocarpaceae | Sloanea | †Sloanea messelensis | Collinson, Manchester, & Wilde | A Sloanea species fruit. |
| Euphorbiaceae | †Euphorbiotheca | †Euphorbiotheca gothii | Collinson, Manchester, & Wilde | Trilocular euphorb fruits. |
| Fabaceae | †Mimosites | †Mimosites spiegeli | Engelhardt | A caesalpinioid legume species pod. |
| Fabaceae | †Leguminocarpon | †Leguminocarpon herendeenii | Collinson, Manchester, & Wilde | A legume species pod. |
| Fabaceae | †Leguminocarpon | †Leguminocarpon sp. | | Legume species pods. 2 mophotypes noted not identified to species |
| Juglandaceae | †Cruciptera | †Cruciptera schaarschmidtii | Manchester, Collinson, & Goth | A juglandaceous winged fruit. |
| Juglandaceae | †Hooleya | †Hooleya sp. | | A juglandaceous fruiting raceme. Not identified to species. |
| Juglandaceae | †Palaeocarya | †Palaeocarya sp. | | A juglandaceous fruit. Not identified to species. |
| Rhamnaceae | Berchemia | †Berchemia mellerae | Collinson, Manchester, & Wilde | A Berchemia buckthorn species fruit. |
| Rosaceae | Prunus | †Prunus pereger | Unger | A cherry relative |
| Ulmaceae | †Cedrelospermum | †Cedrelospermum leptospermum | (Ettingshausen) Manchester emend. Wilde & Manchester | An ulmaceous elm relative fruit. |

### Malvids

| Family | Genus | Species | Authority | Notes |
| Anacardiaceae | Anacardium | †Anacardium germanicum | Manchester, Wilde & Collinson | A cashew species. The first European record of the genus Known from at least 16 fruits and hypocarps |
| Anacardiaceae | Lannea | †Lannea hessenensis | Collinson, Manchester, & Wilde | A Lannea species. Fruits are unilocular, separating them from Lannea europaea 23 specimens in the type series |
| Anacardiaceae | Mangifera | †Mangifera tertiaria | Ettingshausen | A mango relative. |
| Anacardiaceae | †Pentoperculum | †Pentoperculum minimus | (Reid & Chandler) Manchester | A spondiadeous cashew relative. Rounded-pentangular fruits in transverse cross-section Identified from 7 fossils |
| Anacardiaceae | Pleiogynium | †Pleiogynium mitchellii | (Reid & Chandler) Manchester | A Pleiogynium species. A larger spondiadeous fruit with 10 germination valves Described from the holotype only |
| Anacardiaceae | Rhus | †Rhus meriani | Heer | A sumac relative. |
| Anacardiaceae | Rhus | †Rhus saportana | Pilar | A sumac relative. |
| Anacardiaceae | Rhus | †Rhus ternata | Engelhardt | A sumac relative. |
| Anacardiaceae | Tapiscia | †Tapiscia pusilla | (Reid & Chandler) Mai | A Tapiscia species fruit. Some fruits possibly preserved in coprolites |
| Burseraceae | †Bursericarpum | †Bursericarpum species | | A Bursericarpum species endocarp. Not identified to species |
| Burseraceae | Canarium | Canarium sp. | | A Canarium species endocarp. Not identified to species |
| Malvaceae | †Byttneriopsis | †Byttneriopsis daphnogenes | (Ettingshausen) Kvaček & Wilde | A malvaceous leaf morphotaxon |
| Malvaceae | †Byttneriopsis | †Byttneriopsis spiegelii | (Ettingshausen) Kvaček & Wilde | A malvaceous leaf morphotaxon |
| Malvaceae | †Byttneriopsis | †Byttneriopsis steuerii | Kvaček & Wilde | A malvaceous leaf morphotaxon |
| Rutaceae | †Rutaspermum | †Rutaspermum chandleri | Collinson & Gregor | A citrus family seed. |
| Rutaceae | Toddalia | †Toddalia ovata | Wilde | A Toddalia leaf morphospecies Host to Phytomyzites schaarschmidti trace fossils - leaf mines attributed to agromyzid flies |
| Rutaceae | Cf. Toddalia | incertae sedis | | A Seed similar to Toddalia. Not identified to genus/species |
| Sapindaceae | Dodonaea | †Dodonaea salicites | Ettingshausen | A Dodonaea species |
| Sapindaceae | Sapindus | †Sapindus cupanioides | Ettingshausen | A Sapindus species |
| Sapindaceae | Sapindus | †Sapindus dubius | Unger | A Sapindus species |
| Sapindaceae | Sapindus | †Sapindus firmifolius | Engelhardt | A Sapindus species |
| Sapindaceae | Sapindus | †Sapindus heliconius | Unger | A Sapindus species |
| Sapindaceae | Thouinia | †Thouinia occidentalis | Engelhardt | A Thouinia species |
| Simaroubaceae | Ailanthus | †Ailanthus confucii | Unger | An Ailanthus seed. |

### Myrtales

| Family | Genus | Species | Authority | Notes | Image |
| Lythraceae | Cf. Decodon | Incertae sedis | | Seeds of similar morphology to Decodon Not identified to species | |

### Saxifragales

| Family | Genus | Species | Authority | Notes |
| Altingiaceae | †Steinhauera | †Steinhauera subglobosa | Presl emend Mai, 1968 | A sweet gum species. Raceme with at least 7 infructecences |
| Hamamelidaceae | Mytilaria | †Mytilaria boglei | Collinson, Manchester, & Wilde | A Mytilaria species infructecence. |
| Hamamelidaceae | Corylopsis | †Corylopsis maii | Collinson, Manchester, & Wilde, 2012 | A winter hazel species infructecence. |
| Hamamelidaceae | Corylopsis | †Corylopsis waltheri | Collinson, Manchester, & Wilde, 2012 | Isolated winter hazel species seeds. |

### Vitaceae

| Family | Genus | Species | Authority | Notes |
| Vitaceae | Ampelopsis | Ampelopsis sp. | | A peppervine species seed. not identified to species |
| Vitaceae | Cayratia | †Cayratia jungii | (Gregor) Chen & Manchester | A Cayratia species seed. |
| Vitaceae | †Crassivitisemen | †Crassivitisemen wildei | (Chen & Manchester) Collinson, Manchester, & Wilde | Vitaceous species fruits and seeds. Fruits with soft tissue preservation |
| Vitaceae | †Palaeovitis | †Palaeovitis sp. | | A vitaceous species seed. not identified to species |
| Vitaceae | Parthenocissus | †Parthenocissus britannica | (Heer) Chandler, 1957 | Virginia creeper species fruits and seeds. |
| Vitaceae | Vitis | †Vitis messelensis | Collinson, Manchester, & Wilde, 2012 | Grape species fruits and seeds. Some specimens preserved in coprolites |

## Incertae sedis

Carpolitus is a plant morphogenus circumscribed for fossil fruits and seeds that are distinct but not identifiable to defined taxa. Collinson, Manchester, & Wilde (2012) described but did not name 63 distinct Carpolithus morphotypes from the Messel Formation.
| Genus | Species | Authority | Notes |
| †Carpolithus | †Carpolithus anacardiaceus | Engelhardt | Doubtfully referred to Anacardiaceae per Edwards & Wonnacott (1935) |
| †Carpolithus | †Carpolithus callosaeoides | (Engelhardt) | A Carpolithus species with thick woody tissues |
| †Carpolithus | †Carpolithus drupaceus | Engelhardt | A fruit of possible rosaceous affinity |
| †Carpolithus | †Carpolithus euphoriaeoides | Engelhardt | A Carpolithus species fruit Suggested to be similar to Euphoria |
| †Carpolithus | †Carpolithus sapindiformis | Engelhardt | A Carpolithus species fruit Suggested to possibly be affiliated to Sapindus leaves |
| †Carpolithus | †Carpolithus sapindoides | Engelhardt | A Carpolithus species fruit Suggested to possibly be comparable to Sapindus fruits |
| †Carpolithus | Species 1–62 | | various distinct morphotypes |
| †Lagokarpos | incertae sedis | | A Lagokarpos species winged fruit Not identified to species |
| †Saportaspermum | †Saportaspermum kovacsiae | | A Saportaspermum species winged seed Suggested to have malvaceous affinity |
| †Spirellea | †incertae sedis | | A Spirellea species seed Not identified to species |

## Pollen and spores

The first foray into Messel palynology was produced by H. D. Pflug (1952) with follow-up papers in 1957 and coauthored with P. Thomas in 1953. The pollen and spore record was revised and expanded by Heidemarie Thiele-Pfeiffer (1988) who provided the largest in depth palynological work focusing exclusively on the Messel Formation.

### Pteridophyte spores

| Family | Genus | Species | Authority | Notes |
| Osmundaceae | †Baculatisporites | †Baculatisporites primarius | (Wolff) Thomson & Pflug | A royal fern palynospecies |
| Polypodiaceae | †Polypodiaceoisporites | †Polypodiaceoisporites gracillimus | Nagy | Fern spores polypodiaceous affinity |
| Polypodiaceae | †Polypodiaceoisporites | †Polypodiaceoisporites lusaticus | Krutzsch | Fern spores polypodiaceous affinity |
| Schizaeaceae | †Cicatricosisporites | †Cicatricosisporites dorogensis | Potonié & Gelletich | A schizaeaceous fern palynospecies |
| Schizaeaceae | †Cicatricosisporites | †Cicatricosisporites paradorogensis | Krutzsch | A schizaeaceous fern palynospecies |
| Schizaeaceae | †Microfoveolatosporis | †Microfoveolatosporis granuloides | (Krutzsch) Krutzsch | A schizaeaceous fern palynospecies |
| ?Schizaeaceae | †Ischyosporites | †Ischyosporites tertiarius | Krutzsch | A palynospecies of possible schizaeaceous fern affinity |
| incertae sedis | †Laevigatosporites | †Laevigatosporites discordatus | Pflug | A palynospecies of possible Schizaeaceae or Polypodiaceae S. L. affinity |
| incertae sedis | †Laevigatosporites | †Laevigatosporites haardtii | (Potonié & Venitz) Thomson & Pflug | A palynospecies of possible Schizaeaceae or Polypodiaceae S. L. affinity |
| incertae sedis | †Leiotriletes | †Leiotriletes kopeckii | Kedves | Fern spores of Schizaeaceae or Polypodiaceae S. L. affinity |
| incertae sedis | †Leiotriletes | †Leiotriletes maxoides | Krutzsch | Fern spores of Schizaeaceae or Polypodiaceae S. L. affinity |
| incertae sedis | †Leiotriletes | †Leiotriletes microadriennis | Krutzsch | Fern spores of Schizaeaceae or Polypodiaceae S. L. affinity |
| incertae sedis | †Leiotriletes | †Leiotriletes triangulus | Murriger & Pflug | Fern spores of Schizaeaceae or Polypodiaceae S. L. affinity |
| incertae sedis | †Leiotriletes | †Leiotriletes sp. | | Fern spores of Schizaeaceae and Polypodiaceae S. L. affinity A palynomorph component in zone 1 of the Messel Formation. |

### Lycophyte spores

| Family | Genus | Species | Authority | Notes | Image |
| Selaginellaceae | †Echinatisporis | †Echinatisporis hungaricus | Kedves | A spikemoss palynospecies | |

### Conifer pollens

| Family | Genus | Species | Authority | Notes |
| Cupressaceae | †Cupressacites | †Cupressacites insulipapillatus | (Trevisan) Krutzsch | A taxodioid cypress family palynospecies |
| Cupressaceae | †Inaperturopollenites | †Inaperturopollenites concedipites | (Wodehouse) Krutzsch | A taxodioid cypress family palynospecies |
| Cupressaceae | †Inaperturopollenites | †Inaperturopollenites verrupapillatus | Trevisan | A taxodioid cypress family palynospecies |
| Pinaceae | †Pityosporites | †Pityosporites labdacus | (Potonié) Thomson & Pflug | A pine family palynomorph. A component in zone 1–3 of the Messel Formation. |
| Pinaceae | †Pityosporites | †Pityosporites microalatus | (Potonié) Thomson Pflug | A pine family palynomorph. |

### Basal angiosperm pollens

| Family | Genus | Species | Authority | Notes | Image |
| Nymphaeaceae | †Monocolpopollenites | †Monocolpopollenites crassiexinus | Thiele-Pfeiffer | A waterlily family palynospecies Possibly affiliated with Nymphaea | |

### Chloranthalean pollens

| Family | Genus | Species | Authority | Notes | Image |
| Chloranthaceae | †Emmapollis | †Emmapollis pseudoemmaensis | Thiele-Pfeiffer | A chloranthaceous palynomorph Possibly affiliated with Ascarina or Ascarinopsis | |

### Magnoliid pollens

| Family | Genus | Species | Authority | Notes | Image |
| Magnoliaceae | †Magnolipollis | †Magnolipollis magnolioides | Krutzsch | A magnolia family palynospecies Possible affiliated with Magnolia or Michelia | |

### Monocot pollens
#### Alismatalean pollens

| Family | Genus | Species | Authority | Notes | Image |
| Hydrocharitaceae | †Punctilongisulcites | †Punctilongisulcites microechinatus | Thiele-Pfeiffer | A frogbit palynomorph A component in zone 1 of the Messel Formation. Possibly affiliated with Blyxa, Ottelia, or Stratiotes | |

#### Arecalean pollens

| Family | Genus | Species | Authority | Notes | Image |
| Arecaceae | †Monocolpopollenites | †Monocolpopollenites tranquillus | (Potonié) Thomson & Pflug | A palm family palynospecies Possibly affiliated with Phoenix | |

#### Commelinid pollens

| Family | Genus | Species | Authority | Notes |
| Cyperaceae | †Cyperaceaepollis | †Cyperaceaepollis germanicus | Krutzsch | A sedge family palynospecies Affiliated with Carex or possibly Lepironia |
| Cyperaceae | †Cyperaceaepollis | Unnamed | Krutzsch | A sedge family palynomorph of uncertain generic affinity |
| Restionaceae | †Milfordia | †Milfordia incerta | (Thomson & Pflug) Krutzsch | A restiad family palynospecies Possibly affiliated with Hypolaena, Leptocarpus, Lepyrodia, or Restio |
| Restionaceae | †Milfordia | †Milfordia minima | Krutzsch | A restiad family palynospecies Possibly affiliated with Lyginia |

### Superasterid pollens
#### Campanulid pollens

| Family | Genus | Species | Authority | Notes |
| Aquifoliaceae | †Ilexpollenites | †Ilexpollenites iliacus | (Potonié) Thiergart | A holly family pollen Affiliated with Ilex |
| Aquifoliaceae | †Ilexpollenites | †Ilexpollenites margaritatus | (Potonié) Thiergart | A holly family pollen Possibly affiliated Ilex mucronata |
| Aquifoliaceae | †Ilexpollenites | †Ilexpollenites propinquus | (Potonié) Potonié | A holly family pollen Possibly affiliated Ilex mucronata |
| Araliaceae | †Araliaceoipollenites | †Araliaceoipollenites euphori | (Potonié) Potonié | An araliaceous pollen |
| Araliaceae | †Araliaceoipollenites | †Araliaceoipollenites reticuloides | Thiele-Pfeiffer | An araliaceous pollen |

#### Cornalean pollens

| Family | Genus | Species | Authority | Notes | Image |
| Nyssaceae | †Nyssapollenites | †Nyssapollenites kruschii | Potonié | A nyssaceous palynospecies. Two described subspecies N. k. subsp. accessorius & N. k. subsp. analepticus | |

#### Ericalean pollens

| Family | Genus | Species | Authority | Notes |
| Ericaceae | †Ericipites | †Ericipites callidus | (Potonié) Krutzsch | A heather/heath family palynomorph Of uncertain generic affiliation |
| Ericaceae | †Ericipites | †Ericipites ericius | (Potonié) Potonié | A heather/heath family palynomorph Of uncertain generic affiliation |
| Symplocaceae | †Porocolpopollenites | †Porocolpopollenites rarobaculatus | Thiele-Pfeiffer | A sweetleaf family palynospecies. Affiliated with Symplocos |

#### Lamiid pollens

| Family | Genus | Species | Authority | Notes | Image |
| Icacinaceae | †Compositoipollenites | †Compositoipollenites rhizophorus | (Potonié) Potonié | A moonseed palynomorph affiliated with Iodes. | |

#### Santalalean pollens

| Family | Genus | Species | Authority | Notes | Image |
| Olacaceae | †Anacolosidites | †Anacolosidites efflatus | (Potonié) Erdtman | An anacoloseous palynospecies | |
| Olacaceae | †Olaxipollis | Cf. †Olaxipollis matthesi | | An olacaceous palynomorph Possibly affiliated with O. matthesi | |

### Superrosid pollens
#### Fabid pollens

| Family | Genus | Species | Authority | Notes |
| Betulaceae | †Polyvestibulopollenites | †Polyvestibulopollenites verus | (Potonié) Thomson & Pflug | A betulaceous palynospecies Affiliated with Alnus |
| Cannabaceae | †Celtipollenites | †Celtipollenites intrastructurus | (Krutzsch & Vanhoorne) Thiele-Pfeiffer | A hemp family palynospecies Affiliated with Celtis |
| Cannabaceae | †Celtipollenites | †Celtipollenites laevigatus | Thiele-Pfeiffer | A hemp family palynospecies Affiliated with Celtis |
| Juglandaceae | †Caryapollenites | †Caryapollenites circulus | (Pflug) Krutzsch | A Walnut family palynospecies Affiliated with Carya |
| Juglandaceae | †Caryapollenites | Cf. †Caryapollenites triangulus | | A Walnut family palynospecies Possibly affiliated with Caryapollenites triangulus |
| Juglandaceae | †Labraferoidaepollenites | †Labraferoidaepollenites menatensis | Kedves | A Walnut family palynospecies Possibly affiliated with Engelhardia |
| Juglandaceae | †Momipites | †Momipites punctatus | (Potonié) Nagy | A Walnut family palynospecies Possibly affiliated with Engelhardtia, Oreomunnea, or Aifaroa |
| Juglandaceae | †Momipites | †Momipites quietus | (Potonié) Nichols | A Walnut family palynospecies Possibly affiliated with Engelhardtia |
| Juglandaceae | †Nudopollis | †Nudopollis terminalis | (Thomson & Pflug) Pflug | A Walnut family palynospecies One named subspecies N. terminalis subsp hastaformis |
| Juglandaceae | †Platycaryapollenites | †Platycaryapollenites miocaenicus | Nagy | A Walnut family palynospecies Affiliated with Platycarya |
| Juglandaceae | †Platycaryapollenites | †Platycaryapollenites platycaryoides | (Roche) Kedves | A Walnut family palynospecies Affiliated with Platycarya |
| Juglandaceae | †Platycaryapollenites | †Platycaryapollenites semicyclus | (Krutzsch & Vanhoorne) Thiele-Pfeiffer | A Walnut family palynospecies Possibly affiliated with Platycarya |
| Juglandaceae | †Platycaryapollenites | †Platycaryapollenites sp. | | A Walnut family palynospecies Affiliated with Platycarya A component in zone 1–3 of the Messel Formation. |
| Juglandaceae | †Plicatopollis | †Plicatopollis hungaricus | Kedves | A Walnut family palynospecies |
| Juglandaceae | †Plicatopollis | †Plicatopollis plicatus | (Potonié) Krutzsch | A Walnut family palynospecies |
| Juglandaceae | †Plicatopollis | †Plicatopollis pseudoexcelsus | Krutzsch | A Walnut family palynospecies One named subspecies P. p. subsp. microturgidus Two unnamed subspecies |
| Juglandaceae | †Plicatopollis | †Plicatopollis Sp. | | A Walnut family palynospecies Not identified to species |
| Juglandaceae | †Pterocaryapollenites | †Pterocaryapollenites stellatus | (Potonié) Thiergart | A Walnut family palynospecies Affiliated with Pterocarya |
| ?Juglandaceae | †Plicatopollis | †Plicatopollis lunatus | Kedves | A palynospecies of possible juglandaceous affinity |
| Ulmaceae | †Polyporopollenites | †Polyporopollenites eoulmoides | Krutzsch & Vanhoorne | An elm family palynospecies |
| Ulmaceae | †Polyporopollenites | †Polyporopollenites undulosus | (Wolf) Thomson & Pflug | An elm family palynospecies Possibly affiliated with Ulmus or Zelkova |
| Ulmaceae | †Polyporopollenites | †Polyporopollenites verrucatus | (Wolf) Thomson & Pflug | An elm family palynospecies Possibly affiliated with Hemiptelea |

#### Malvid pollens

| Family | Genus | Species | Authority | Notes |
| Malvaceae | †Bombacacidites | †Bombacacidites tilioides | Krutzsch | A bombacoid palynospecies Possibly affiliated with Bombax |
| Malvaceae | †Bombacacidites | †Bombacacidites Sp.1 | | A bombacoid palynomorph Described but not formally named Affiliated with Bombax |
| Malvaceae | †Bombacacidites | †Bombacacidites Sp.2 | | A bombacoid palynomorph Described but not formally named Affiliated with Bombax |
| Malvaceae | †Intratriporopollenites | †Intratriporopollenites minimus | Mai | A tilioid palynospecies Of uncertain generic affinity |
| Malvaceae | †Intratriporopollenites | Cf. †Intratriporopollenites maxoides | | A tilioid palynomorph Possibly affiliated with I. maxoides |
| Thymelaeaceae | †Pseudospinaepollis | †Pseudospinaepollis pseudospinosus | Krutzsch | A thymelaeaceous palynospecies Possibly affiliated with Stellera or Wikstroemia |

#### Myrtalean pollens

| Family | Genus | Species | Authority | Notes | Image |
| Lythraceae | †Lythraceaepollenites | †Lythraceaepollenites minimus | Thiele-Pfeiffer | A myrtle family palynospecies Possibly affiliated with Rotala or Ammannia | |
| Lythraceae | †Lythraceaepollenites | †Lythraceaepollenites sp. | | A myrtle family palynospecies Possibly affiliated with Rotala, Ammannia, or Woodfordia Described but not named | |

### Incertae sedis pollens

| Genus | Species | Authority | Notes |
| †Brosipollis | †Brosipollis striatobrosus | (Krutzsch) Krutzsch | Possible affinity is to Gomphandra (Icacinaceae) or Burseraceae |
| †Compositoipollenites | †Compositoipollenites minimus | (Krutzsch & Vanhoorne) | A palynomorph species of uncertain affiliation. |
| †Labrapollis | †Labrapollis labraferus | (Potonié) Krutzsch | A palynomorph species of uncertain affiliation. |
| †Multiporopollenites | †Multiporopollenites microreticulatus | Krutzsch | A palynomorph species of uncertain affiliation. |
| †Multiporopollenites | †Multiporopollenites Sp.1 | | A palynomorph species of uncertain affiliation. |
| †Multiporopollenites | †Multiporopollenites Sp.2 | | A palynomorph species of uncertain affiliation. |
| †Pentapollenites | †Pentapollenites pentangulus | (Pflug) Krutzsch | A palynomorph species of uncertain affiliation. Two known subspecies P. p. subsp foveostriatus & P. p. subsp pentangulus |
| †Pentapollenites | †Pentapollenites punctoides | Krutzsch | A palynomorph species of uncertain affiliation. |
| †Pentapollenites | †Pentapollenites Sp.1 | | A palynomorph species of uncertain affiliation. |
| †Pentapollenites | †Pentapollenites Sp.2 | | A palynomorph species of uncertain affiliation. |
| †Pollenites | †Pollenites setarius | Potonié | A palynomorph species of uncertain affiliation. |
| †Pompeckjoidaepollenites | †Pompeckjoidaepollenites subhercynicus | (Krutzsch) Krutzsch | A palynomorph species of uncertain affiliation. |
| †Tricolporopollenites | †Tricolporopollenites messelensis | Thiele-Pfeiffer | A palynomorph with suggested affinity to Oleaceae or Rutaceae A component in zone 1 of the Messel Formation. |
| †Tricolporopollenites | †Tricolporopollenites solé de portai | Thiele-Pfeiffer | A palynomorph with suggested affinity to Rosaceae A component in zone 1 of the Messel Formation. |