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In the present study, we analyzed seven wooden bows and 13 arrows excavated from the cemeteries of Subeixi Culture (13th century BCE–AD second century) in the Turpan Basin, northwest China. A total of six taxa, viz. Morus sp., Salix sp., Picea sp., Lonicera sp., Betula sp., and Tamarix sp. were identified. Some of these taxa have been generally accepted to be suitable for bow‐and‐arrow production. All these taxa were local in origin but distributed in different ecotonal zones, including oases, saline‐alkali lands, and mountain areas. Previous archaeological studies have confirmed that the Subeixi populations lived an agro‐pastoral life. By analyzing the possible provenance of these wood samples, it can be hypothesized that these ancient agro‐pastoralists moved between the Turpan Basin and the Tianshan Mountains on a seasonal basis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Internal wood damage poses a significant threat to tree health, impacting wood quality, mechanical stability, and wind resistance, therby challenging forest resource conservation and sustainable management efforts. The health of Populus euphratica , a keystone species, is crucial for the stability and sustainability of desert riparian forest ecosystems. Consequently, quantitatively diagnosing internal wood damage in living trees is essential for the conservation of existing forests. In this study, the degree of internal wood damage in the trunks of sample Populus euphratica trees of varying ages from the midstream of the Tarim River was quantified using Arbotom stress wave testing technology. The relationships among growth characteristics, soil physicochemical factors, and standing wood decay were analyzed. The results indicated that Arbotom stress wave testing technology achieved an accuracy of up to 92% in diagnosing internal wood damage in living P. euphratica trees. Healthy trees were more prevalent among middle-aged trees (65%), followed by mature (50%), near-mature (42%), and over-mature (30%) trees. The area of internal decay in over-mature and mature forests accounted for a significant proportion of decay, ranging from light to heavy decay levels. At the stand scale, increased in the level of trunk decay caused by increasing tree age. At the individual scale, light, moderate, and heavy decay were significantly positively correlated with diameter at breast height, tree height, and crown diameter, respectively (p < 0.01). Light decay was significantly negatively correlated with soil pH (p < 0.05). Moderate decay was significantly positively correlated (p < 0.05) with available-P and soil electrical conductivity and negatively correlated with Avail-K (p < 0.05). Heavy decay was significantly negatively correlated (p < 0.05) with available-K in both the 40–60 cm and 60–100 cm depth soil layers. The findings elucidate the causes and factors driving P. euphratica trunk decay in the Tarim River Basin, offering insights to aid in preventing and controlling standing tree decay and the sustainable management of natural desert riparian forest resources in arid areas. • Quantitative diagnosis of internal wood damage in living trees using non-destructive testing (NDT) methods can provide effective information. • At the stand scale, internal stem decay was age-related and increased with age. • At the individual scale, significant positive correlation between internal wood damage and diameter at breast height, tree height, and crown diameter. • Soil physicochemical properties affecting P. euphratica vary at different degrees of trunk internal decay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fossil wood not only provides a comprehensive understanding of the ancient floral composition and the evolution history of wood through time, but also sheds light on the paleoclimate, paleoenvironment, and paleoecology. Permineralized conifer wood commonly occurs in the Jurassic of China; however, the detailed anatomical study has been sparsely conducted on the Jurassic wood from Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (Xinjiang), Northwest China. Here, we describe a unique permineralized stem, Yiwupitys elegans Gou et Feng gen. nov. et sp. nov. from the Middle Jurassic Xishanyao Formation in Naomaohu Town of Yiwu County, Hami City, Xinjiang, Northwest China. The fossil stem is preserved with pith, primary xylem, and secondary xylem. The solid pith is heterocellular and characterized mainly by clustered or isolated secretory cells and pitted parenchymatous cells at the pith periphery. The primary xylem is mesarch showing annular, helical, and scalariform thickenings on the tracheid walls from the protoxylem to the metaxylem. The secondary xylem is pycnoxylic and exclusively composed of tracheids and parenchymatous rays. Growth rings are distinct. The secondary xylem tracheids are featured commonly by bent ends overlapping each other. They have mostly uniseriate or biseriate, or partially triseriate alternately or oppositely arranged bordered pits on the radial walls and uniseriate or biseriate bordered pits on the tangential walls. The rays are uniseriate and up to sixteen cells high. There are four to eight cupressoid pits in each cross-field, arranged in the araucarioid type. Leaf traces initiate from the pith margin and possess a single vascular strand in each trace. The anatomical structures indicate that Yiwupitys elegans has a closer affinity with conifers, although it shows few characteristics of ginkgophytes. Our study shed new light on the plant diversity of the Yiwu Jurassic Forest. • A new fossil stem is described from the Middle Jurassic of Northwest China. • Discussion affinity of Yiwupitys elegans gen. nov. et sp. nov. • Secretory structures features are present in the stem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]