New fossil wood descriptions from the Pliocene of central Anatolia and the presence of Taxodioxylon in Turkey from the Oligocene to Pliocene

Abstract

Recent paleobotanical studies on petrified woods revealed valuable information about the Miocene-period trees of Turkey.The purpose of this study is to present new descriptions from the Pliocene of central Anatolia. The materials were collected from anew fossil site of Pliocene age in the village of Yıprak (Çerkeş, Çankırı, Turkey) in central northern Turkey. With this study, a newfossil genus, Cercioxylon Ü. Akkemik, related to modern Cercis L., and a new fossil species of Cupressinoxylon were described, and along presence of taxodioid type trees from the late Oligocene to Pliocene of Turkey were discussed. The wood composition showedthat the area had a lowland riparian forest type composed of Taxodioxylon, with lowland semidry vegetation composed of Cercioxylonand Cupressinoxylon. This type of vegetation, excluding the presence of Taxodioxylon, is rather similar to modern vegetation in theMediterranean region.