Diversity and histology of a plant litter bed from the Cenomanian of Archingeay–Les Nouillers (southwestern France)

The exploitation of a third part of the sand quarry of Font-Benon (Archingeay–Les Nouillers, southwestern France) has exposed a clay lens bearing a massive accumulation of plant macro- and mesoremains. From the stratigraphic point of view, this lens corresponds to sub-unit A2sm1–2 dated as Lowermost Cenomanian in age. The plant assemblage is remarkable by low fragmentation, association of vegetative and reproductive organs of the same taxa, and by the quality of histological cuticle preservations. The plant remains were accumulated close to the producing plants and deposited in paralic, calm and brackish environment, probably of conifer-dominated type mangrove.