I need help with a scale like fossil!

[AstroRaptor56]

Hello! I recently went to Grand Ledge, Michigan. This area is part of the Carboniferous, and more specifically the Pennsylvanian period. I found this fossil that appears to be scales. It’s not an imprint either, the scales are elevated. In the surrounding rock there are cordiate fossils and some kind of clam, I found ferns in the area as well. I believe that it was a swamp land way back when these were all alive. An ID on what kind of plant or maybe even fish scales would be awesome! Thank you!

[connorp]

Maybe Lepidodendron? Plants are not my strong suit. I did want to say though, nice job on finding stuff there. I poked around a couple times with no luck. Fossil hunting is tough in southern Michigan.

[AstroRaptor56]

55 minutes ago, connorp said:

Maybe Lepidodendron? Plants are not my strong suit. I did want to say though, nice job on finding stuff there. I poked around a couple times with no luck. Fossil hunting is tough in southern Michigan.

I looked Lepidodendron up to see what other specimens looked like and I’m pretty sure you right on! Thank you so much! Those are such cool plants.

[deutscheben]

Nice find! I used to climb at Grand Ledge, but I never looked for fossils there. I missed out!

[pachy-pleuro-whatnot-odon]

Yup, also not too familiar with plant fossils, but this definitely looks like Lepidodendron sp. to me. And though your specimen looks too worn to attribute an exact species name, it might still be fun to have a look at the images in this lithotheque. Photographs are of Chinese specimens, so I'm not sure how well that would hold up versus your locality, but could be interesting comparison all the same.

[Rockwood]

I'm tempted to call this lepidopholios because the leaf scars look as wide as tall. It appears to be a branch though so that might be different than a typical trunk pattern.

[Mark Kmiecik]

9 hours ago, Rockwood said:

lepidopholios

*lepidophloios

[Rockwood]

56 minutes ago, Mark Kmiecik said:

*lepidophloios

I guess lepidophloios could work also. But I can't even see the other symbol on my key board.

[Mark Kmiecik]

22 hours ago, Rockwood said:

I guess lepidophloios could work also. But I can't even see the other symbol on my key board.

5 points on that one. Same here. And the ball game is tied. 

[Rockwood]

1 hour ago, Mark Kmiecik said:

5 points on that one. Same here. And the ball game is tied. 

I thought I got the spelling from a book. 

So there really do seem to be both spellings that could match the post. 

I was a little worried. 

[fossilus]

A lifetime ago I used to collect fossils in Grand Ledge. I'm glad they are still being found there!