Lower Devonian plant

[paleoflor]

L.S.,

 

Hope someone on TFF can help me with the identification of a plant fragment from the Lower Devonian (Pragian) of the Belgian Ardennes. The specimen in question consists of a 17 mm-long, 12 mm-wide oval-shaped body, which is seemingly covered in equant scales (though this could also be an artefact of the surface preservation) and has curved spine-like protrusions (see right hand-side of specimen in first two photographs). The detailed structure of the specimen is quite difficult to capture, so I added four photographs taken under different lighting conditions. Hope this is enough to showcase the main features. To my eye, the overall texture and "spines" do resemble those of Drepanophycus-like stems, which have been observed at the locality. However, I find it difficult to explain the oval-shape of this structure in terms of a stem fragment. This rounded shape gives it an almost strobilar appearance. The specimen is associated with long, naked axes having a smooth surface, present in the same slab of rock, but not in organic connection. Other floral elements encountered at the locality mainly include zosterophyllopsids.

 

    
 

Are you aware of any scaled strobilar structures from the worldwide Lower Devonian to which I could compare my Belgian find? Or do you think this specimen should be interpreted as a (rounded) stem fragment? I'm really struggling with this one, so I would love to hear your thoughts! 

 

Kind regards,

 

Tim

[Rockwood]

Pertica, Maine's state fossil, is drawn as having sporangia sort of shaped this way.

It's probably not a help, but it's all I've got. 

[paleoflor]

7 hours ago, Rockwood said:

Pertica, Maine's state fossil, is drawn as having sporangia sort of shaped this way.

It's probably not a help, but it's all I've got. 

 

Thanks for the suggestion! I looked at a few papers on Pertica, but I don't think it's a match, unfortunately.

[ckmerlin]

Hi Tim 

I did some digging on this all I could find that might possibly match is Agloaphyton major

I'm probably wrong 

 

https://www.fossilhunters.xyz/fossil-plants-2/a-glaophyton-major.html

 

Hope this helps 

[Fossildude19]

I can't help with ID, but it is a beautiful fossil, Tim.

Congratulations on this cool find.

Let us know if you do get any word on it.

 

[paleoflor]

6 hours ago, ckmerlin said:

Hi Tim 

I did some digging on this all I could find that might possibly match is Agloaphyton major

I'm probably wrong 

 

https://www.fossilhunters.xyz/fossil-plants-2/a-glaophyton-major.html

 

Hope this helps 

 

Thanks for the input. Must say I never considered the Rhynie chert flora, as the mode of preservation is do very different... Unfortunately, however, the sporangia of Aglaophyton majus are slightly smaller than this specimen and I cannot find any data on them having scales or spines (available reconstructions show relatively smooth shapes).

[paleoflor]

5 hours ago, Fossildude19 said:

I can't help with ID, but it is a beautiful fossil, Tim.

Congratulations on this cool find.

Let us know if you do get any word on it.

 

 

Will do, though, I'm starting to think more and more that I might be dealing with an oddly shaped bit of Drepanophycus-like stem...