Evolution de la végétation et du climat pendant le Pliocène moyen en Italie centrale: apport de la palynologie et des macroflores à l’étude du bassin du Valdarno Supérieur, (coupe de Santa Barbara)

The associated micro- and macroflora study of the Santa Barbara section allows a good assessment of the vegetation and its evolution during the Middle Pliocene in Central Italy. The assemblage contains both subtropical (Taxodiaceae, Lauraceae, Nyssa, Engelhardia, Symplocos, etc) and temperate taxa (Quercus, Carpinus, Liquidambar, Carya, Zelkova, Populus, Acer, Betula, Fagus, etc). Warm humid climatic conditions are recorded in the middle-lower part of the section (at least from 3.1 Ma). A progressive cooling, testified by an increase in Fagus and Picea, becomes significant in the upper part of the section.