Pennsylvanian Plant?

[Rusty-White]

I found this in a road cut near Kansas City in what I think is Pennsylvanian limestone. I have only recently begun collecting fossils so I don't know enough to give more details.

The brighter white spots left of center, right of center, and along the right edge are some scuffing.

Any help you can give is appreciated.

Thanks,

Russ

[BobWill]

Welcome to the forum. I am not the right person to yes or no but I'll say I certainly would have taken it out to ask someone. Do you know what other material has been found at that site?

[Rusty-White]

Thanks for the welcome and the comment. I have found brachiopods of a variety of sizes, perhaps some bivalves, fenestrate bryozoans, and crynoid stems at the site. In addition, I have found quite a few limestone concretions there.

[Bullsnake]

Definitely Pennsylvanian. To me it looks like either ichnofossil (tracks/burrow), or possibly root molds.

The black stuff adjacent to the markings appear to be a modern lichen or fungus.

[tmaier]

You can tell this object was not laid down during the sedimentation of the layers because the veins of it continue on to the edge of the slab and then start to crawl off into other layers. If it were a plant fossil it would be trapped in a layer, but this one just keeps going. It could be a burrow, but I think it was created after the layers had hardened, it is likely a modern root that has crept between the layers, and then that attracted dirt and modern lichens and mold.

In short... not a fossil.

Edited September 21, 2014 by tmaier

[Rusty-White]

Thanks to each of you for your input. I plan to hang on to the specimen with the hope of having someone look at it in person. Having examined it again more closely myself, the veins do seem to be a feature of the thin layer of lichen (I think) that covers the surface of the rock, and this inclines me toward the explanation given by tmaier. I'm enjoying the learning process.

Thanks again.

[Herb]

I do not believe it is a fossil.

[paleoflor]

You can tell this object was not laid down during the sedimentation of the layers because the veins of it continue on to the edge of the slab and then start to crawl off into other layers. If it were a plant fossil it would be trapped in a layer, but this one just keeps going. It could be a burrow, but I think it was created after the layers had hardened, it is likely a modern root that has crept between the layers, and then that attracted dirt and modern lichens and mold.

In short... not a fossil.

While I agree with your conclusion that this is probably not a (typical) plant fossil, I'd be cautious arriving there by the argument that plant fossils cannot span multiple sedimentary layers. From lycophyte stumps and calamite stems in growth-position, to small compound fronds buried in mud, all can puncture sedimentary layering to some degree. Especially if these are roots, as proposed above somewhere, I would not be surprised to see "plant bioturbation" involving several sedimentary levels.