Source/Archive record SCH5378 - The Identity and Origins of Picea Abies (L.) Karsten from the Chelford Interstadial (Late Pleistocene) of England

Pollen and macrofossils of Picea from the Chelford Interstadial (Early Devensian) of England are described. All leaves and cones were referred to P. abies (L.) Karsten, and the unimodal size distribution of pollen also suggests only this species was present. The fossil leaves are mostly similar to those of P. abies subspecies obovata (Ledeb.) Hultén, but the cones are intermediate between subspecies obovata and abies. Occurrence of forms approaching the north-east European subspecies obovata does not necessarily imply immigration of Picea into England from the east or north-east during the Early Devensian because similar intermediate forms also occur in the Alps