Pennsylvanian Flora

[Fullux]

Howdy all,

 

Here's a Pennsylvanian plant assemblage from Letcher, Kentucky.

 

I'm already aware of the Cordaites leaf and another structure that looks similar to that, as well as the seed fern fronds. I'm curious however as to what type of seed fern that is, and of the other little bits and pieces that are in here.

[Rockwood]

As seen in the top photo: The larger plant to the right looks like lycopod cortex. The smaller piece, bottom center, and the longer piece to the left I think are both Calamites. 

 

[Fullux]

57 minutes ago, Rockwood said:

As seen in the top photo: The larger plant to the right looks like lycopod cortex. The smaller piece, bottom center, and the longer piece to the left I think are both Calamites. 

 

I can see what you mean on the smaller structure in the center. I was thinking Calamites myself but wanted another opinion on it in case it was a cone or something.

 

I was thinking cordaites for the largest structure. It has very leaf-like texture. Cordaites has "strap-like" leaves, similar to palms and grasses, and it looks similar to those, as well as other Cordaites leaves I compared it to.

 

 

 

I was thinking the same for the similar but smaller structure to the left, though there is something that looks like a node "joint" which makes me want to consider Calamites.

 

Do you have any idea about the seed fern leaves? (Top right). I was thinking neuropteris, though I don't really know my seed ferns too well.

 

[Rockwood]

The veins in Cordiates leaves are straighter and more regularly spaced. A certain amount of waviness might be due to preservation, but the one on the right looks more like decorticated lycopod cortex to me. 

 

 

[Fullux]

2 hours ago, Rockwood said:

The veins in Cordiates leaves are straighter and more regularly spaced. A certain amount of waviness might be due to preservation, but the one on the right looks more like decorticated lycopod cortex to me. 

 

 

Would you happen to have some examples you could show me of this? I can't find any online.

[Rockwood]

1 hour ago, Fullux said:

Would you happen to have some examples you could show me of this? I can't find any online.

Well, yes, I have a good one in my collection. I couldn't find a picture of it though. If the point doesn't become moot by the time I have good light tomorrow, I'll dig it out to photograph. Maybe @Plantguy and/or others will weigh in. 

[Rockwood]

Here it is.

[Fullux]

51 minutes ago, Rockwood said:

Here it is.

So, I'm curious. What exactly is decorticated lycopod cortex?

[Rockwood]

It's the tissue that makes up the trunk of the arborescent growth stage of the lycopod.  It has the same function as wood in conifers or angiosperm trees. It is shed from the base in later stages of growth. Lycopods had a determinate growth pattern, so masses of it would be deposited when the plants died. 

[Rockwood]

I think the fern likely Neuropteris.