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Dryad

Astroniumxylon, Schinopsixylon and Parametopioxylon n. gen. fossil woods from Upper Cenozoic of Argentina: Taxonomic revision, new taxon and new records

Cite this dataset

Franco, María Jimena (2019). Astroniumxylon, Schinopsixylon and Parametopioxylon n. gen. fossil woods from Upper Cenozoic of Argentina: Taxonomic revision, new taxon and new records [Dataset]. Dryad. https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.x95x69pd3

Abstract

This paper presents new descriptions of Anacardiaceae fossil woods from the Ituzaingó Formation (late Cenozoic) at the Toma Vieja, Curtiembre, and Arroyo El Espinillo localities, Argentina. We describe eight silicified woods assigned to four different species in three genera, one of which, Parametopioxylon crystalliferum n. gen. n. sp., is new. Similarities between these three genera and the six Anacardiaceae species previously recorded from the late Cenozoic in northeastern Argentina are investigated using multivariate analysis techniques (correspondence and cluster analysis). Our study is based on thirty-three characters scored for seventeen fossil specimens (ten Astroniumxylon Brea, Aceñolaza et Zucol 2001, five Schinopsixylon Lutz 1979 and two Parametopioxylon n. gen.) and four extant species (Astronium balansae Engl., Astronium urundeuva Engl., Schinopsis balansae Engl. and Metopium sp.). Our main goal is to determine the wood anatomical features useful for distinguishing among these species. The results of the multivariate analyses support the previous classification where Schinopsixylon is distinguished from Astroniumxylon by having exclusively paratracheal axial parenchyma, ≥30% multiseriate rays, and multiseriate rays that are ≥5 cells wide and commonly 301–400 µm in height. Additionally, we propose that Schinopsixylon heckii Lutz 1979 is synonymous with S. herbstii Lutz, 1979. A diagnostic key for the fossil species studied is given. Wood anatomy of Anacardiaceae fossil woods from Argentina (late Cenozoic) suggests a warm dry to semi-humid climate for this region supporting previous studies.