Fossil coniferous woods from the Oldman Formation (Upper Cretaceous) of Alberta

Abstract

The paper deals with a study of four species of coniferous woods recorded for the first time from the Oldman Formation (Campanian) of southern Alberta. These are, Platyspiroxylon parenchimatosum of the Cupressaceae; Taxodioxylon cryptomerioides and T. multiseriatum of the Taxodiaceae; and Podocarpoxylon ajkaense of the Podocarpaceae. Of these, Platyspiroxylon parenchymatosum has affinities with Callitris, while Taxodioxylon cryptomerioides and Podocarpoxylon ajkaense show striking similarities to the wood structure of Cryptomeria and Podocarpus respectively.