The First Fossil Wood Anatomy Report of the in-Situ Trees of Shemshak Formation in Gheshlagh

Wood samples of upper Triassic–middle Jurassic were collected from eastern Alborz، Gheshlagh coalmines. These samples were collected from trunks and roots of the remaining standing trees and some scattered timbers. Thirteen samples were transferred to the lab and were investigated after being prepared in the form of thin layers and sections. All of the materials were identified as Gymnosperm-like woods of pycnoxylic tracheidoxyl Homoxylous type. These are kinds of fossil woods in which the woody cylinder is not dissected by the thick parenchymatous woodrays (so-called manoxylic woods). Almost in all samples (but one) the growth ring boundaries were not distinct and there was no resin canal. One can identify at least two genera، one of which was reported previously in Kerman. Based on the wood remnants and the leaves of the plants such as Scytophyllum، Equisetes، Ferns، Ginkgos، and also Coniferes، the age of Gheshlagh is assumed Triassic.