Araucarioxylon Kraus is a widely known fossil-genus generally applied to woods similar to that of the extant Araucariaceae. However, since 1905, several researchers have pointed out that this name is an illegitimate junior nomenclatural synonym. At least four generic names are in current use for fossil wood of this type: Agathoxylon Hartig, Araucarioxylon, Dadoxylon Endl. and Dammaroxylon J.Schultze-Motel. This problem of inconsistent nomenclatural application is compounded by the fact that woods of this type represent a wide range of plants including basal pteridosperms, cordaitaleans, glossopterids, primitive conifers, and araucarian conifers, with a fossil record that extends from the Devonian to Holocene. Conservation of Araucarioxylon has been repeatedly suggested but never officially proposed. Since general use is a strong argument for conservation, a poll was conducted amongst fossil wood anatomists in order to canvass current and preferred usage. It was found that the community is divided, with about one-fifth recommending retention of the well-known Araucarioxylon, whereas the majority of others advocated use of the legitimate Agathoxylon. The arguments of the various colleagues who answered the poll are synthesized and discussed. There is clearly little support for conservation of Araucarioxylon. A secondary aspect of the poll tackled the issue as to whether Araucaria-like fossil woods should be either gathered into a unique fossil-genus, or whether two fossil-genera should be recognized, based on the respective presence or absence of axial parenchyma. A majority of colleagues favoured having one fossil-genus only. Agathoxylon can be used legitimately and appears to be the most appropriate name for such woods. However, its original diagnosis must be expanded if those woods lacking axial parenchyma are to be included.

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The present paper represents the second part of the palaeoxylotomical study on the “Grădinaru Collection” that is housed by the National Museum of Geology, Bucharest. By the study of a new material collected from the Getic domain of the South Carpathians, Romania, the following taxa were identified and discussed in detail: Protocupressinoxylon dragastanii, Protojuniperoxylon holbavicum (sp. nov.), Brachyoxylon holbavicum, B. cristianicum, Palaeoginkgoxylon sp., Bucklandia sp. A, and Bucklandia sp. B. All the studied specimens suggest to a tropical Early Jurassic petrified forest. Thus, the new data have not only palaeobotanical importance, but they also contribute to the palaeobiogeographic, palaeoecologic and palaeoclimatologic knowledge of the Mesophytic

ABSTRACT.Telephragmoxylon transsylvanicum, a new morphospecies of cheirolepidiaceous conifer wood, typical for the Latest Cretaceous from Sebeş Valley in Oarda-Sebeş sector (Alba district), coeval with the latest dinosaurs, is described. Geological and palaeobotanical settings for South Apuseni Mts. area are sketched and paleoclimatical remarks are suggested.

This paper reports the palaeoxylotomical study of petrified conifer remains from Velitzelos collection, orig-inating from some fossiliferous sites of Greece, especially from the Aegean area (Evros, Limnos, Lesbos), aged of late Oligocene to early Miocene. Ten species were identified: Cupressinoxylon akdikii, Juniperoxylon acarcae, Tetraclinoxylon velitzelosii, Taxodioxylon gypsaceum, Taxodioxylon taxodii, Glyptostroboxylon rudolphii, Glyptostroboxylon tenerum, Pinuxylon pineoides, Pinuxylon halepensoides and Pinuxylon sp. aff. Pinus canariensis. These new identifications add new elements to the forest assemblages of the Oligocene - Miocene Greek flora, useful for understanding the evolution of the Cenozoic palaeovegetation and palaeoclimate in the Aegean area.

The paper reports a palaeoxylotomical study of petrified palm remains (stem, root, rachis) collected from some fossil sites of Greece (Evros, Lemnos, Lesbos and Kastoria) aged to the late Oligocene to early Miocene. Five species of Palmoxylon were identified: P. daemonoropsoides (Unger) Kirchheimer, corr., P. chamaeropsoides Iamandei et Iamandei, sp. nov., P. coryphoides Ambwani et Mehrotra, P. sabaloides Greguss, P. trachycarpoides Iamandei et Iamandei, sp. nov. and P. phoenicoides Hofmann. Also found were two species of Rhizopalmoxylon (R. daemonoropsoides Iamandei et Iamandei, sp. nov., R. phoenicoides Iamandei et Iamandei, sp. nov.) and Palmocaulon sp. aff. Phoenix L. These new identifications add new elements to the forest assemblages of the Oligocene–Miocene Greek flora, useful for understanding the evolution of the Cenozoic palaeoclimate in the Aegean area.

A collection of petrified wood, hosted by the Natural Sciences Section of the Museum “Vasile Pârvan” from Bârlad, was submitted to a palaeoxylotomical study. The samples come from the central part of Moldova, Northward of Bârlad, and were collected from Simila gravel-quarry, from fluvial-deltaic sediments of Maeotian age, most probably representing reworked elements from a Sarmatian formation which occurs in situ more Northward, in Soleşti-Avereşti-Huşi area. Previous palaeobotanical studies made in that region outlined an interesting Late Miocene Flora on the Moldavian Platform, and the palaeoxylotomical studies confirmed in that area the presence of forests with conifers, elms, oaks and poplars. The results of the present study show the following taxa identified taxa: Glyptostroboxylon cf. rudolphii Dolezych et Van der Burgh, Ulmoxylon scabroides Greguss, Quercoxylon bavaricum Selmeier, Quercoxylon intermedium Petrescu et Velitzelos, Populoxylon tremuloides Iamandei et Iamandei, and Prunoidoxylon multiporosum Dupéron.

We had in study some samples from a private collection of petrified wood, from South Apuseni mts., found in an area where numerous Miocene petrified woods were already described and tens lignotaxa were identified. These new petrified woods were collected from Ociu area, on the Church’s brook. They could contribute to better knowing that fabulous Mid-Miocene forest, and by palaeoxylotomic study the following arboreal taxa were identified: Thu-joxylon sp., Magnolioxylon kräuselii (Greguss) Van der Burgh, Spiroplatanoxylon densiradiatum (Petrescu) Süss, and Quercoxylon sp. cf. Quercus frainetto Tenore.