Show us your scale tree fossils.

[Bobby Rico]

Hi All

 

we have had on the forum some quite out there post in the last few days so I thought I would add a post that is a little more grounded . I know very little about Scale Trees and some may think they are a little dull but to me they are quite striking. 

 

The Carboniferous was the heyday for early land plants. Giant lycopods, ferns, and horsetails formed the backbone of the land’s  ecosystems. One of the most abundant plants during these times was the lycopsids known as the scale trees. Scale trees collectively make up the extinct genus Lepidodendron order Lepidodendrales.  The name “scale tree” stems from the fossilized remains of their bark and roots, which resembles and can be at times mistaken for reptile/dinosaur skin . In fact it resembles more scaly skin than it does anything botanical. 

 
I am starting my post with a favourite Lepidodendron specimen give to me last Christmas by Doren. I will show my entire  allotment in the coming days. 

 

 

Thanks for looking and I look forward to seeing your specimens and learning more about this subject . Cheers   Bobby 

[ziggycardon]

A very beautiful piece and lovely reminder of Doren's generosity! 

Unfortunatly I don't have any Lepidodendron yet to share, maybe I should visit some of the local slag heaps to find my own  

[Ludwigia]

Good idea for a topic, Bobby. Here's a nice Lepidodendron branch which I acquired recently.

 

 

And some Lepidophloios bark.

 

 

[Bobby Rico]

4 minutes ago, Ludwigia said:

Here's a nice Lepidodendron branch which I acquired recently.

 

Nice acquisition they really are pleasing to the eye and these are both fine. Thank you for adding to my thread. Bobby 

[Bobby Rico]

1 hour ago, ziggycardon said:

 

A very beautiful piece and lovely reminder of Doren's generosity! 

Unfortunatly I don't have any Lepidodendron yet to share, maybe I should visit some of the local slag heaps to find my own  

 

Thanks Ziggy and you never know what goodies you’re find in a slag heap. 

[Thecosmilia Trichitoma]

I don't have any pieces to share, but I have a feeling that this will be an interesting thread!

[Bobby Rico]

Today we are going to Mazon Creek . Lepidodendron bark and the base of a Neuropteris  leaf.

[Bobby Rico]

Sigillaria scale tree bark fossil from the mines surrounding the Lievin area of France showing exquisite preserved detail. Bolsovian in age I think,  

[Bobby Rico]

Any takers in sharing some scale tree material. 

[ziggycardon]

I do have some Sigillaria material  

 

A Sigillaria (Syringodendron) found in Ibbenburen in Germany, this was one of my first big fossil pieces I aqcuired when I was just starting out with my fossil collection  

[paleoflor]

Herewith a few examples of scale trees from the Carboniferous of the Netherlands, Belgium, France and Poland.

[paleoflor]

Few more Sigillaria from Belgium.

[Bobby Rico]

On 10/10/2020 at 8:00 PM, ziggycardon said:

Sigillaria material

Hi Ziggy that’s beautiful a very showy piece indeed. Thank you for adding to my thread. 

[Bobby Rico]

22 minutes ago, paleoflor said:

examples of scale trees from the Carboniferous of the Netherlands, Belgium, France and Poland.

Beautiful collection some incredible patterns. I really like your photography too. Very nice collection and thanks for sharing. All the best Bobby 

[Bobby Rico]

Carboniferous Lepidodendron Bark from the mines surrounding Lievin in France.The shales are Bolsovian in age  

[historianmichael]

Here is a plate with two Lepidodendron branches that I recently found from the Late Pennsylvanian Llewellyn Formation in Pennsylvania.

 

[Ludwigia]

Here's a Sigillaria tessellata from Saarland's Late Carboniferous.

 

 

 

[FossilNerd]

I don’t have anything to contribute yet... but I have thoroughly enjoyed this thread. Thanks @Bobby Rico for starting the topic, and thanks to all that have contributed! Lovely specimens all! 

[Bobby Rico]

@historianmichael @Ludwigia thank you both , very nice specimens . 
 

@FossilNerd thanks mate , this thread definitely owes more than  a nod to the contributors. I hope to add another post over the weekend.

[paleoflor]

Below an example featuring Halonia-type scars from the Westphalian D of the Piesberg quarry near Osnabrück, Germany.

[Bobby Rico]

39 minutes ago, paleoflor said:

Below an example featuring Halonia-type scars from the Westphalian D of the Piesberg quarry near Osnabrück, Germany.

Thanks again you have a great collection. Cheers Bobby 

[Bobby Rico]

These are from an old collection of mixed fossils mostly  Corals that I picked up at auction . The dates are interesting in the collection as a whole  , the earliest is at 1933,  1936, 1937, 1938, 1939 then the at 1944. It does possible look like they may have gone and came back from the war or just because the  U.K. was in lockdown and no unnecessary travel was permitted.  Not the best specimen but I like the human part of their history.

[Bobby Rico]

The last of my French collection a  Sigillaria Fossil Tree Bark of Bolsovian in age from the mines surrounding the Lievin area of France .   

[Bobby Rico]

This image is from Wikimedia I thought it would be of interest to see an illustration of these strange trees . 

[Nimravis]

@Bobby Rico here are a couple quick pieces that I was able to find tonight, all Mazon Creek.