Woods from the Miocene Bakate Formation, Ethiopia: Anatomical characteristics, estimates of original specific gravity and ecological inferences

Abstract

An assemblage of permineralized woods from the Miocene Bakate Formation, Fejej Plain, Ethiopia, is described. This assemblage of twelve wood types differs from other Miocene wood assemblages known from Ethiopia. Cell wall percentages of the woods were determined to estimate the original specific gravities of the woods in order to better understand the Miocene vegetation and environment of Fejej. The relatively high specific gravities (0.63 to 0.82) and numerous and narrow vessels of these Miocene woods are characteristics of dry deciduous forests or woodlands. The affinities of some of the Fejej woods could not be determined because critical diagnostic features could not be determined, but others have characteristics seen in the Sapotaceae, Leguminosae, Combretaceae, and Bignoniaceae (a ring porous wood). None of the families represented by a fruit and seed assemblage from Fejej are represented in the wood assemblage.