Mazon Creek Tree Trunk And Other Petrified Wood (Psaronius?)

[Stocksdale]

Last year, I found a large trunk of a tree at a coal mine heap in the Mazon Creek area. Images of it here and here.

A few weeks ago, I found some more parts (a few feet from the original) that look like identical material. One of which is also a large root/trunk.

It has an interesting curve shape. Looks like part of a root mantel rising out of the ground.

Here's the bottom part.

And here's some details of areas of the bottom showing what I assume is adventitious rootlets.

Edited April 14, 2014 by Neophytus Elginian

[Stocksdale]

Here are both of the "Trunk/Roots" together in one photo.

[Stocksdale]

Here's some other things found. I think these parts of the tree fern are sometimes referred to as Stigmarioides. (also spelled stigmariodes and stigmaroides)

And some details showing the rootlets.

Edited May 26, 2014 by Neophytus Elginian

[Stocksdale]

Here's some more pieces that I decided to scan and see if there was anything interesting.

[Plantguy]

You are certainly finding some interesting plant stuff! I wish I could add something worthwhile..just dont know much about those kind of finds.

I'm hopeful some of the other plant folks can offer some detailed analysis. Thanks for showing us! If you dont get any responses start pming folks as it so easy for a thread to get lost here.......seems to be quite alot of posts lately on all kinds of cool finds.

Regards, Chris

[Stocksdale]

Thanks, Chris. I'm just trying to make sense of these pieces and get a picture of these of ancient worlds. I'm still not even certain what type of wood these things are......

But nonetheless, I decided to put together a theoretical reconstruction adapting artwork from "The Morphology and Anatomy of American Species of the Genus Psaronius" by Jean Morgan (1959).

For those familiar with psaronius, would this be possible?

Edited April 14, 2014 by Neophytus Elginian

[Stocksdale]

The illustrations on this page about Psaronius being able to float resembled what I'd found somewhat. http://chertnews.de/floating_tree.html

[lissa318]

Very interesting finds! I should never be allowed to comment on unknowns as I am new at all of this... But the first "detail showing the rootlets" pic in your 3rd comment reminds me a lot of a few odd finds of mine last summer. I was hunting in the dunkard group in PA which is primarily Permian mixed with Pennsylvanian in some areas. Now I need to look that old post up... lol I'll share it with you when I find it.

[lissa318]

http://www.thefossilforum.com/index.php?/topic/36833-plant-ids/?hl=%2Bdunkard+%2Bgroup

Does my first picture on this post look similar to your rootlet details at all? I apologize if I'm way off base... lol

[Stocksdale]

Hi Lisa,

Yes, I think that is the same thing. There was another post here http://www.thefossilforum.com/index.php?/topic/41060-stimaria-eveni/?hl=psaronius#entry481704 with some Indiana material by Rockaholic. In that post, Jack Wittry referred to them as Stigmariodes and that they were the areas along the "trunk" (mantle of rootlets) where the ferns aerial roots had broken off.

I think this modern tree fern is doing a similar thing with all these shaggy ends of aerial roots jutting out.

Edited April 22, 2014 by Neophytus Elginian

[lissa318]

Thanks for sharing that! I learn new things on here everyday...

[RiseOfTheExtinct]

I found some petrified wood there too. It's the only thing I found when I went.