Fossil wood of Bischofia palaeojavanica Awasthi from the Eocene of the Changchang Formation of Hainan Island, China

Abstract

A fossil wood of Bischofia palaeojavanica Awasthi resembling the extant Bischofia javanica Blume of the family Euphorbiaceae, is described from the Eocene sediments of the Changchang Basin of Hainan Island, China. The fossil not only forms the first record of Bischofia from the basin, but is also the earliest from China. Its presence indicates the occurrence of humid valley forests in the region during the deposition of the sediments.