The European Palaeocene-Eocene flora was reviewed and subdivided according to the bio-provinces by Mai (1995). He suggested a new grouping according to the concept of a “Florenkomplex”, or “Florenbild”, or “Floral Assemblage” introduced by Mai & Walther (1978, p. 168), which is based on floristic properties as well as the stratigraphic position of related floras independent of the environment/vegetation type (hence the term “Komplex”). The present overview follows in general the same concept detailed in Mai & Walther (2000) but stresses the necessity to replace the system of the “Florenkomplex” groups by a more appropriate system in the future. The term “Florenkomplex” uses a pre-occupied term “complex” that is also employed in lithostratigraphy.(Therefore it is replaced by “unit” in the following text). However, revision of the “Florenkomplex” would require a re-definition and re-naming of Mai and Walther’s units. The extent of these units in time and space would need to be updated and more stress should be laid upon more critical re-appraisal of plant elements. Such a revision is beyond the scope of the present paper. The present “state-of-the-art” is summarized in Table 1.