Abstract

FRANCO, María Jimena. Fossil woods of Lauraceae from the Ituzaingó Formation (Pliocene - Pleistocene), Paraná river basin, Argentina. Rev. Mus. Argent. Cienc. Nat. [online]. 2012, vol.14, n.2, pp.307-324. ISSN 1853-0400.

: Six fossil woods with Lauraceae affinity from the fluvial sediments of the Ituzaingó Formation were described. The specimens were found in Hernandarias and Curtiembre fossiliferous localities, in Entre Ríos, Argentina. Combination of characters present in the specimens allowed us to distinguish the Lauraceae from other dicotyledonous families and to assign them to two different fossil species: Laurinoxylon artabeae (Brea) Dupéron-Laudoueneix & Dupéron 2005 and a new genus. The Vulnerability Index (V) and Mesomorphy Ratio (M) were calculated, and they indicated that the two species were adapted to wet environments. Comparison with the nearest living relatives suggests the existence of a flora linked to a watercourse, with riparian components.

Keywords : Palaeobotany; Lauraceae; fossil woods; Cenozoic; Ituzaingó Formation.