Turpanopitys taoshuyuanense gen. et sp. nov., a novel woody branch discovered in Early Triassic deposits of the Turpan Basin, Northwest China, and its palaeoecological and palaeoclimate implications

Shi X.;Yu J.;Broutin J.;Pons D.;Rossignol C.;Bourquin S.;Crasquin S.;Li Q.;Shu W.

2017-01-01

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Abstract

A novel well-preserved woody branch, Turpanopitys taoshuyuanense gen. et sp. nov. was collected in the early Triassic terrestrial deposits in the Turpan Basin, Northwest China. The permineralized wood is characterized by a heterogeneous pith, endarch primary xylem and Protophyllocladoxylon-type secondary xylem. The pith consists of parenchyma cells and supporting diaphragms formed by brick-like sclerenchyma cells. The quantitative growth-ring analyses of T. taoshuyuanense indicate that the species was evergreen, the leaf longevity being comprised between 3 and 15 years. T. taoshuyuanense might indicate a warm humid climate with short dry periods in the Turpan basin in the Early Triassic. The Protophyllocladoxylon-type woods were widely distributed in different climate zone in both southern and northern hemispheres during the Palaeozoic and Early Triassic. The growth rings of the woods with Protophyllocladoxylon-type secondary xylem are good indicator for the palaeoclimate. The new specimen indicates that a warm humid climate with irregularly distributed short dry periods in the Early Triassic Turpan basin.