Mid-Cretaceous (Albian–Cenomanian) fossil woods from Hwawon-myeon in Jeollanam-do, Korea, and their palaeoclimatic implications

Two coniferous fossil wood taxa are reported from the Hwawon Formation (middle Cretaceous) at Hwawon-myeon in Jeollanam-do, Korea: Agathoxylon sp. and Taxodioxylon sp. Agathoxylon has a clear affinity with the Araucariaceae and its occurrence in the Hwawon Formation suggests that a dry and tropical–subtropical climate prevailed in this area during the middle Cretaceous. The presence of traumatic resin canals in the Taxodioxylon specimens indicates that flooding occurred repeatedly as part of an alternation between dry and rainy seasons. The low diversity observed for the Cretaceous fossil wood assemblages from the Korean Peninsula could be explained by the palaeoclimatologically stressful environment, as a dry tropical–subtropical climate prevailed over the region at that time.

► We identified two fossil woods from the mid-Cretaceous strata at Hwawon-myeon in Korea.
► They are Agathoxylon sp. and Taxodioxylon sp.
►  Agathoxylon which has affinity with extant Araucariaceae indicates dry and tropical–subtropical climatic conditions.
► Traumatic resin canals in the Taxodioxylon samples suggest the occurrences of repetitive flood events.
► The low fossil wood flora diversity in the Korean peninsula during the Cretaceous suggests a locally stressful environment.