Icelandic forests

Fagus friedrichii

This leaf is from one of two beech species for which fossils have been found on Iceland.

This species came from North America to Iceland via Greenland. Several other species also came via the North Atlantic land bridge — but via Europe, migrating from Scotland, across the Faroe Islands and then to Iceland. The land bridge made it possible for many plant species to spread over large areas, until it was covered by the sea around 10 million years ago.

Populus

The first poplar species lived around 55 million years ago. They grew in the Northern Hemisphere, usually alongside streams. Plants that border streams, rivers or lakes are often preserved as fossils.

Today, poplar species are found all over the Northern Hemisphere.

Populus

The first poplar species lived around 55 million years ago. They grew in the Northern Hemisphere, usually alongside streams. Plants that border streams, rivers or lakes are often preserved as fossils. Today, poplar species are found all over the Northern Hemisphere.

Comptonia

Comptonia belongs to the plant family Myricaceae, which only grows wild in eastern North America with a single species, Comptonia peregrina.

During the Palaeogene and Neogene periods, they grew all over the Northern Hemisphere. Although the common name for this plant is sweet fern, it is not related to ferns. Comptonia peregrina is a flowering plant and is related to bog myrtle, a shrub which grows wild in Sweden.

Acer crenatifolium

Maple leaves have a characteristic shape that resembles an outspread hand. Both the leaves and the fruit of maples are easily recognized in fossils.

There are many fossils of various maple species from the Arctic and from temperate zones of the Northern Hemisphere. They remain today in northern temperate zones, with the exception of Acer laurinum which grows in the Southern Hemisphere.

Magnolia

The leaf to the left is part of a magnolia leaf. Various species of magnolia grew in Europe during much of the Palaeogene and Neogene periods, when the climate was much warmer than it is now. Those species died out around two million years ago.

The magnolia trees and shrubs that now grow in Europe have all been introduced from other regions. Wild magnolias are found only in Asia and America.

Alnus gaudinii

The alder, Alnus gaudinii, grew on Iceland around 15 million years ago, and also in Central Europe and parts of Asia.

Alnus gaudinii is now extinct, but is related to existing species that grow in Japan and northern Iran. The oldest known fossils of alder are about 50 million years old.

Betula islandica

According to the available fossil evidence, the first birch species lived around 50 million years ago. This species, Betula islandica, lived around 12 million years ago. It belongs to a group of birches with broader leaves than those on the birches that grow in Sweden today.

Broad-leaved birches grew in many parts of the world during the Palaeogene and Neogene periods, when the climate was warmer and damper. Today, species of this group occur only in those regions of the Northern Hemisphere which have warm and damp climates — southeastern USA, Southeast Asia, for example.

Magnolia kobe

Seeds of a magnolia. Various species of magnolia grew in Europe during much of the Palaeogene and Neogene periods, when the climate was much warmer than it is now. Those species died out around two million years ago.

The magnolia trees and shrubs that now grow in Europe have all been introduced from other regions. Wild magnolias are found only in Asia and America.

Alnus gaudinii

The alder, Alnus gaudinii, grew on Iceland around 15 million years ago, and also in Central Europe and parts of Asia.

Alnus gaudinii is now extinct, but is related to existing species that grow in Japan and northern Iran. The oldest known fossils of alder are about 50 million years old.

Acer

Maple leaves have a characteristic shape that resembles an outspread hand. Both the leaves and the fruit of maples are easily recognized in fossils. There are many fossils of various maple species from the Arctic and from temperate zones of the Northern Hemisphere.

They remain today in northern temperate zones, with the exception of Acer laurinum which grows in the Southern Hemisphere.

Acer crenatifolium

Maple leaves have a characteristic shape that resembles an outspread hand. Both the leaves and the fruit of maples are easily recognized in fossils. There are many fossils of various maple species from the Arctic and from temperate zones of the Northern Hemisphere.

They remain today in northern temperate zones, with the exception of Acer laurinum which grows in the Southern Hemisphere.