The identification of historical events by geological and archaeological evidence is often ambiguous and conflicting, undermining the enormous potential for sub-annual precision in dating. The ruin of one of the largest pottery factories in the Middle East during Byzantine times, recently excavated in Yavneh (central Israel), exemplifies this: aligned fallen walls and columns and a kiln that collapsed while still in operation, with dozens of ceramic storage jars in articulation. Archaeological dating, which limits the time of the collapse to the seventh century CE, cannot distinguish between two large documented earthquakes that occurred during this century. By using pollen grains trapped by the collapse, we were able to distinguish, for the first time, between the two candidate earthquakes: September 634 CE and early June 659 CE. The pollen was extracted from the dust captured on the floor of the kiln during the cooling process of the vessels. The dust was collected only from below in situ whole vessels, and based on our reconstruction had been accumulated for about several days (after the heating process ended and before the collapse). Since the palynological assemblages included spring-blooming plants (such as Olea europaea and Sarcopoterium spinosum) and no common regional autumn bloomers (e.g. Artemisia), it is proposed that the kiln went out of use due to the early June 659 CE earthquake. We also propose that the recovery of the Yavneh workshops was no longer economically worthwhile, maybe in part due to changes in economic and political conditions in the region following the Muslim conquest.

The present study reports the results of pollen analyses on four species of Butia (Arecaceae), Butia odorata, B. yatay, B. paraguayensis and B. lallemantii. Pollen grains were described using light microscopy (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and pollen viability was determined by the fluorochromatic reaction (FCR) test. All species of Butia studied produce monosulcate pollen grains with a tectate perforate exine. Additionally, B. odorata and B. paraguayensis produce two pollen grain types, mono- and also trichotomosulcate, which has been considered a derived state of the character. Regarding pollen grain size and shape, there are significant differences in long and short axis lengths, and their ratio. Despite serious regeneration problems which jeopardise population survival in the short-term future, results showed that pollen viability of all species of Butia analysed was high enough to ensure good pollination. Therefore, pollen viability is not the limiting factor for population continuity. This is the first study dealing both with pollen morphology and assessment of pollen viability with the aim of species delimitation within this genus. Additionally, this is the first study providing new information regarding the status of the current Butia populations of southern South America from a palynological point of view.

We present the first palynological study of the La Deheza Formation in Paganzo Basin, San Juan Province, Argentina. A total of 18 samples were studied and 116 palynomorph species were recorded. A multivariate statistical (R) analysis confirmed the occurrence of three associations. Assemblages 1 (240 m), 2 (230 m) and 3 (220 m) were referred to biozones already registered in the Paganzo Basin, i.e. Raistrickia densa—Convolutispora muriornata (DM), Pakhapites fusus—Vittatina subsaccata (FS) and Lueckisporites—Weylandites (LW) biozones. These assemblages can be assigned a Pennsylvanian—Cisularian age based on previous stratigraphic records of the identified species.

The study of pollen grains of Acacia asak showed a marked pollen dimorphism of smooth exine (psilate) polyad type A and rough exine (scabrate) polyad type B, when examined using light microscopy (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Typical pollen grains of Acacia asak are 16-monads. Both acetolised and non-acetolised grains of the two types were studied, measured, described and illustrated using LM and SEM. The main differences between these and the functional significance are discussed. Polyad dimorphism can be used as a character to distinguish between A. asak and otherAcacia species. In this study, two polyad types are recorded from the same anther of A. asak for the first time, possibly related to pollination function. However, the function of polyad dimorphism in the same anther is still unclear and requires further study.

Aureliana and Athenaea (Withaniinae, Solanaceae) are two genera of shrubs or small trees with centres of diversity in the Brazilian Atlantic Rain Forest. They are difficult to distinguish using gross morphology, and are traditionally segregated based on differences in fruiting calyx size. Pollen grains of all taxa were acetolysed, treated and examined with light and scanning electron microscopy, with the aim of identifying diagnostic characters. Microphotographs and illustrations of pollen grains are presented. The species analysed present small- to medium-sized monad pollen grains of varying morphology with long to extremely long colpi, and lalongate endoapertures. The analysis showed that the pollen grains of both genera are very similar, differing in size-related characters. These data contributed to the synonymisation of Athenaea within Aureliana.

The microspore morphology of 10 Indian species of Selaginella based on colour, laesura length, ornamentation and size was investigated using both light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The microspore ornamentation of some species and tetrad formation in mature microsporangia of S. ganguliana have been described for the first time. In addition, intraspecific variations in ornamentation patterns of microspores have been reported using SEM. These observations will be helpful in morphotaxonomy for accurate identification and cataloguing the basic data of selaginellaceous microspores, as well as systematics of the genus.

The section of Gorgo a Cerbara in Italy has been proposed as the Global Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP) for the Barremian/Aptian boundary (Lower Cretaceous). This section displays the transition between the white pelagic limestones of the Maiolica Formation (Tithonian—lowermost Aptian) and the polychrome marls of the Marne a Fucoidi Formation (Aptian—Albian). The Oceanic Anoxic Event 1a (OAE 1a) anoxic horizon (Selli Level) is located in the latter formation. Here, we report for the first time a palynostratigraphical assessment of this key section, with a very high resolution in the Selli Level.

Palynomorph groups recorded include acritarchs, microforaminiferal test linings, 58 dinoflagellate cysts, 44 sporomorph taxa, and freshwater fungal and algal bodies. These include such biostratigraphical markers as Rhynchodiniopsis aptiana and Odontochitina operculata among the dinoflagellate cysts and Afropollis cf. jardinus among sporomorphs. Biostratigraphical events recognised allow comparisons with previously studied successions in other similar areas (e.g. Cismon apticore in the Southern Alps, Italy). The distribution of taxa recorded in the Gorgo a Cerbara section is generally consistent with published data, but several differences between the assemblages recorded in the Cismon apticore and in this study were noted.

The best global markers for the Barremian/Aptian boundary are represented by the disappearance of R. aptiana and by the appearance of O. operculata, but in this section these occurred 0.65–1.35 Myr after the magnetostratigraphically defined boundary, within the Selli Level. The angiosperm pollen A. cf. jardinus is recorded only within the Selli Level (from 1.4 to 1.6 Myr after the Barremian/Aptian boundary), consistent with an Early Aptian age. A cluster of 10 extremely short-ranging dinoflagellate cyst excursion taxa appear in this section coincident with the Nannoconid Crisis event and its associated thermal peak, ca. 10–20 kyr before the onset of the OAE 1a. Several short-ranging Pteridophyta spore species are found only within the Selli Level itself.

Palynological analysis of the Shishtu 2 Member (Shishtu Formation) located in the Howz-e-Dorah area (southeast Tabas, central Iran Basin) suggests a middle Tournaisian—late Viséan age for this rock unit. The Shishtu 2 Member consists of shale, sandstone, dolostone and limestone. Three palynological assemblages are recognised and mainly correlated with the miospore biozones of Northern Gondwana. A microfloristic comparison with other sections in Western Gondwana (South America) is also proposed. We identify a sedimentary hiatus between the Shishtu 1 and Shishtu 2 members. Our findings suggest that the Mush Horizon is the lowermost part of the Shishtu 2 Member, contrary to the Iranian literature where it is considered to be the uppermost part of the Shishtu 1 Member.

The paucity of modern pollen-rain data from the central part of Uttar Pradesh is a significant barrier to understanding the Late Quaternary vegetation history from the northern region of India. The interplay between extant vegetation and the modern pollen assemblage from both natural and human-induced vegetation types is examined from Lucknow, as an aid for palaeoenvironmental reconstructions. A dataset of 25 surface pollen samples has been documented from the conservation forests of Kukrail, Lucknow (part of Central Ganga Plain). The palynodata reflect the mixed deciduous forest comprising Acacia, Butea, Salmalia, and Syzygium under a warm and humid climate in response to rainfall variations in the region. High monsoonal activity in and around the region is inferred from the presence of the Euphorbiaceae—Moraceae—Syzygium assemblage in the sediments. The marshy and aquatic taxa such as Cyperaceae, Nymphoides and Polygonaceae are strongly suggestive of the perennial waterlogged condition in the area. A striking signal of winter dryness is easily visible in the palynoassemblage, especially observed through Artemisia and Chenopodiaceae. The regular presence of pollen grains of conifers and other broad-leafed taxa including Alnus, Betula, Pinus and Quercus are suggestive of high wind activity from the higher altitudes. Anthropogenic activity is in continuous pace as reflected by the higher frequencies of cereal pollen (14–29%) and Brassicaceae (2–5%). The contrasting frequencies of extant floral taxa recovered in the form of pollen in varied surface samples are indicative of differential pollen production, dispersal and deposition patterns. Therefore, an attempt has been made to precisely observe the behavioural pattern of modern pollen deposition which could in turn help in assessing the expanse of pastoral practices and the depth of deterioration of pristine forests as well as in the reconstruction of past climate and vegetation shifts in Central Ganga Plain, India. A correlation of regional palynodata with other tropical regions of the Indian subcontinent as well as in a global context is required for better interpretation.

Paralychnophora is an exclusively Brazilian genus that has few species and a confusing taxonomy. The current study aims to help us better understand this genus by analysing pollen grains from six Paralychnophora species. The pollen grains were acetolysed, analysed and photomicrographed under light microscopy. They were not acetolysed for the scanning electron microscopy analysis. Features such as shape, size, exine constitution and aperture were investigated. The species were separated in a pollen key, and their features were of great diagnostic value for the genus. The ornamentation pattern allowed separating P. patriciana from P. reflexoauriculata, and it grouped the other taxa. P. atkinsiae distinguished itself by the polar area index (PAI) size. P. bicolor, P. harley and P. glaziouana were easily separated from each other when other features such as size, shape, distance between the spines and aperture dimensions were analysed together.