Cupressinoxylon jiayinense, a new species of the Late Cretaceous from Heilongjiang Province, China

Abstract

Cupressinoxylon jiayinense spec. nov., a new species of silicified coniferous wood, is described from the Late Cretaceous in Jiayin County, Heilongjiang Province, Northeast China. The growth rings are distinct. The transition from earlywood to latewood is gradual. Rays range from 1-to 2- seriate, and are 4-68 cells high. Both horizontal and tangential walls of ray cells are smooth. The cross-field pitting is cupressoid. There are 2 or 3 pits per cross field. Ray tracheids are rarely present. Wood parenchyma is abundant and diffuse. Resin canals are absent. These features indicate affinities with Cupressaceae, specifically with some members of the extant genus Cupressus.