NEW RECORDS OF MORACEAE FROM THE UPPER MIOCENE OF NORTHEASTERN ARGENTINA

New records of permineralized fossil woods recovered from the fluvial sediments of Ituzaingo Formation (upper Miocene) in the fossiliferous locality of Toma vieja (Entre Rios, Argentina) are described in this work. An eco-anatomical study of the secondary xylem was performed and the fossil woods were assigned to Moraceae. A new genus and species is proposed, Helicostyloxylon paranensis, and a new record of Soroceaxylon entrerriensis Franco is described. Many anatomical features in these fossil woods are related to warm and humid conditions. Also, the vulnerability and Mesomorphy indices were calculated, both evidencing mesomorphic values, and the Nearest Living Relatives (NLRs) method was used to reveal the riparian or "gallery" forest floristic affinity of these fossil woods.