Budoš Limestone
The Budoš Limestone is a geological formation in Montenegro, dating to 179 million years ago, and covering the middle Toarcian stage of the Jurassic Period. It has been considered a important setting in Balkan paleontology, as it represents a terrestrial setting, with abundant plant material. It is the regional equivalent to the Toarcian units of Spain such as the Turmiel Formation, units like the Wazzant Formation and the Azilal Formation of Morocco and others from the Mediterranean such as the Posidonia Beds of Greece and the Marne di Monte Serrone of Italy.
Vakhrameev recovered the abundant macroflora present in the formation, the richest of the Mediterranean Toarcian realm, with several characteristics, such as the abundant presence of thermophilic Bennettitales and Pachypteris, that grew on semi-arid climates. Most of the research of the flora was done by Pantic between 1952 & 1981, recovering abundant Macroflora and Palynomorphs. Several genera where recovered, such as Coniopteris, Podozamites and Elatides. It was considered initially that this flora grew in a continental setting, appearing on deposits that resemble modern inland deposition on ferric soils, thus, in a large inland valley with semi-arid conditions but with nearby large water bodies such as lakes. Other opinions suggested that the flora was divided in two groups, a coastal flora and an interior flora, but part of a small island ecosystem similar to modern Bahamas.
In 2019 the Budoš Limestone strata were identified as part of the now lost continent of Greater Adria, as happened with the terrestrial matter on the Marne di Monte Serrone, with the confirmation of a continental origin for the plant matter, as was proposed in 1990.Fossil content
Flora
Megaespores
Plant remains
