Terrestrial plants and marine algae from the Late Jurassic lithographic limestone of the Causse Méjean (Lozère, southern France)

A new Late Jurassic flora, comprising terrestrial plants and marine algae, has been discovered in the lithographic limestone of the Causse Méjean in southern France. This is the first documented Kimmeridgian/Tithonian flora from the region, revealing a unique co-occurrence of land-based vegetation—including bennettitaleans, conifers, and pteridosperms—and marine dasyclad algae. The fossilized remains suggest preservation in a protected, flat environment, likely a brackish or marine lagoon influenced by both continental and marine conditions. The study indicates that coastal habitats during this period were dominated by sub-arborescent vegetation adapted to hot, dry conditions, providing insights into the palaeoenvironmental adaptations of Late Jurassic flora.

Moreau, J.-D., Baret, L., Lafaurie, G., & Chateau-Smith, C. (2016). Terrestrial plants and marine algae from the Late Jurassic lithographic limestone of the Causse Méjean (Lozère, southern France). Bulletin de La Société Géologique de France, 187(2), 121–127. https://doi.org/10.2113/gssgfbull.187.2.121