Middle Eocene (Bartonian) Ficus from Monte di Malo (Vicenza - Italy)

The Middle Eocene (Bartonian, ~ 40 Ma) deposits of the Lessini Mountains in the Veneta region are well-known for their well-preserved fossil plants which have been studied since the XVII century. A fossil wood sample recently found in the Val Matta area, in the Municipality of Monte di Malo (Vicenza, Italy), is described. This piece of wood has anatomical characteristics that occur in the extant genus Ficus of the Moraceae, and it is Europe's oldest known wood of the genus.