SUPERB Polished Cretaceous Tree Fern Trunk Section

Description: The Tempskyaceae is an extinct family of tree ferns possessing but a single genus. Sections of tree fern trunks are highly prized for their beauty. Tree ferns have been around since the Permian, and persist to this day, earning them the term “living fossil”. The “trunk” is composed of many vascular elements that supply the plant with water and nourishment, making for a most pleasing overall effect. This is an essentially complete trunk section which shows the adventitious roots of the fern in great detail. It has been polished on one side to show off the interior to best advantage. Interestingly enough, the relationship between “trunk” size and number of stems is inverse, i.e, with the smallest trunks having the largest number of stems. It has led to the hypothesis that Tempskya grew from a single stem which branched off distally. The adventitious roots would then surround the stem to provide support, allowing additional stems to grow alongside. Many stems would later rot, leaving the cluster of roots to support the plant and provide water. Regardless of the cause, this is an excellent example.