Turpanopitys taoshuyuanense gen. et sp. nov., a novel woody branch discovered in Early Triassic deposits of the Turpan Basin, Northwest China, and its palaeoecological and palaeoclimate implications

A novel well-preserved woody branch, Turpanopitys taoshuyuanense gen. et sp. nov. was collected in the early Triassic terrestrial deposits in the Turpan Basin, Northwest China. The permineralized wood is characterized by a heterogeneous pith, endarch primary xylem and Protophyllocladoxylon-type secondary xylem. The pith consists of parenchyma cells and supporting diaphragms formed by brick-like sclerenchyma cells. The quantitative growth-ring...