Mennegoxylon, commonly referred to as snakewood, is a genus of now extinct trees exhibiting a cell structure resembling snake skin when viewed in cross section.[1] Mennegoxylon is found in the Eocene age Yegua Formation of Texas and Louisiana, USA.[1] Specifically, many examples of snakewood have been found in College Station, Texas.[2]

Mennegoxylon
Mennegoxylon specimen
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Nyctaginaceae
Genus: Mennegoxylon
F.M.Hueber, E.M.V.Nambudiri, W.D.Tidwell & E.F.Wheeler
Type species
Mennegoxylon jonesii

It has been classified as a genus in the Nyctaginaceae.[3] The type species is Mennegoxylon jonesii.[1] The genus is named for Dr. Alberta Mennega.[1]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c d Hueber, F.M.; E.M.V. Nambudiri; W.D. Tidwell; E.F. Wheeler (1991). "An Eocene fossil tree with cambial variant wood structure" (PDF). Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology. 68 (3–4). Amsterdam: Elsevier Science Publishers B.V.: 257–267. Bibcode:1991RPaPa..68..257H. doi:10.1016/0034-6667(91)90027-z.
  2. ^ Singleton, Scott (January 2017). "Occurrence of Fossil Woods in Texas, Primarily the Cretaceous and Tertiary". Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies Transactions. 67: 305–330 – via The AAPG/Datapages Combined Publications Database.
  3. ^ Wheeler, Elisabeth; Manchester, Steven R. (January 2002). "Woods of the Middle Eocene Nut Beds Flora, Clarno Formation, Oregon, USA" (PDF). IAWA Journal (3). Nationaal Herbarium Nederland, The Netherlands: International Association of Wood Anatomists: 156. Retrieved 27 January 2021.