首次发现产自辽西义县皮家沟下白垩统九佛堂组保存有解剖构造的木化石,利用木化石切片法对木化石解剖特征进行研究。当前木化石均为硅化保存,其中一块标本保存有髓、初生木质部、次生木质部等解剖构造。其髓部主要由薄壁细胞构成,初生木质部为内始式,次生木质部为Protophyllocladoxylon型。部分木化石标本表面密布大小不一的孔洞,推测为昆虫幼虫的觅食痕迹。此外,木化石产出层位还发现有大量丝碳化石,表明义县地区早白垩世九佛堂组沉积时期存在野火事件,而频发的火山喷发活动可能是野火事件的诱因。
New fossil wood material was reported for the first time from the Lower Cretaceous Jiufotang Formation in Yixian of western Liaoning,NE China. These fossil woods are silicified preserved,in which one specimen is anatomically preserved with pith,primary xylem and secondary xylem. The pith is mainly composed of parenchymatous cells. The primary xylem is with an endarch maturation. Anatomical details of the secondary xylem canbe taxonomically referred to the morphogenus Protophyllocladoxylon Krausel. Additionally,numerous small holes occurred on the surface of some fossil wood specimens,which is guessed the foraging marks of insect larvae. It is noted that numerous fossil charcoals were found associated with these fossil woods. The presence of fossil charcoal indicates that natural wild fires,most probably ignited by volcanic eruptions,may have occurred in the Yixian region during the sedimentary stage of the Jiufotang Formation in the Early Cretaceous.