Carboniferous Plant ID

[Rockin' Ric]

Howdy to all...can someone tell me what these are? It appears to be some type of small cone from a fern tree. The were found in layers of shale that consisted of fern flora.

Edited May 27, 2017 by Rockin' Ric

[Fossildude19]

They look like some sort of lycopod cone, Ric - very cool  finds!

Maybe @paleoflor or @fiddlehead can weigh in. 

Regards,

[abyssunder]

Considering all of the pictures from your two topic, perhaps there could be an association between Arthropleura armata, Neuropteris, Sphenopteris, Alethopteris, Lepidostrobus, Calamostachys, Calamites . (just a guess)

 

Try to compare with the flora of the Union Chapel Mine, Alabama.

 

FOSSIL PLANTS FROM THE UNION CHAPEL MINE, ALABAMA

 

 

[Rockin' Ric]

20 minutes ago, abyssunder said:

Considering all of the pictures from your two topic, perhaps there could be an association between Arthropleura armata, Neuropteris, Sphenopteris, Alethopteris, Lepidostrobus, Calamostachys, Calamites . (just a guess)

 

Try to compare with the flora of the Union Chapel Mine, Alabama.

 

FOSSIL PLANTS FROM THE UNION CHAPEL MINE, ALABAMA

 

 

There's no doubt an association between the two...Union Chapel is approximately 50 miles west of this site. The difference may be in the preservation of some of the fossils I've seen from both locations?

[abyssunder]

According to the above document, the Union Chapel Mine plants occur in the Lower Pennsylvanian Pottsville Formation. That flora contains Lepidostrobus and Calamostachys lycopod cones. I'm leaning toward Lepidostrobus comparing yours with those from Figure 2, but I'm not a specialist in fossil plants. Wait for the experts.

 

 

[fiddlehead]

What I see are some interesting associations of three non related plant groups. The cones are Lepidostrobus from arboreal lycopsids. Those like the ones seen here—with feathery appearing bracts—are often referred to as Lepidostrobus variabilis. And they are thought to include several natural taxa. The branch with the dicotomy is from a seed fern and has been referred to as Myeloxylon. Lastly the wide strap-like leaf is a Cordaites borne from the plant of the same name, and is a very distant ancestor to modern conifers.

 

Hope this helps some,

Jack