Fine Dresden Lakes Annularia Fossil

Annularia stellata

Division Pteridophyta, Class Equisetopsida, Order Equisetales, Family Calamitaceae

Geological Time: Pennsylvanian (~300 m.y.a.)

Size (25.4 mm = 1 inch): Plant fossil is 100 mm long by 55 mm across

Fossil Site: Dresden Lakes, Francis Creek Shale, Grundy County, Illinois

Code: DLF03

Price: Sold


Annularia stellataDescription: The Mazon Creek deposits of the region near Braidwood, Illinois rival the other famous Lagerstatten of the Burgess Shale, Solnhofen, and Liaoning for the variety of detailed life preserved. Many exquisitely-preserved specimens are found in the ironstone nodules that make up the deposits. The majority of collecting areas are the spoil heaps of abandoned coal mines. This particular nodule, however, comes from Dresden Lakes in Grundy County Illinois. Like the better-known Pit 11 site near Braidwood, Illinois, this location became the site for cooling ponds for a nuclear power plant. The site is well known for the dark coloration that while esthetically pleasing is somewhat harder to photograph. I recently had an opportunity to acquire a collection that was made in the 1950’s. This fine specimen is a member of the genus Calamites , a member of the Calamitales which belong to the Sphenophytes. Whorls of small leaflets are arranged concentrically around a thin stem and are called Annularia or Asterophyllites. Calamites itself is the name originally given to a stem section, but now applies to the entire plant. These were indicative of humid to wet habitats such as along rivers and lake shores. This is a fine large example which fills is enclosing nodule with three star-shaped leaf whorls.

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