Petrified Lepidophloios Specimens from Iowa Coal Balls

Authors

Nancy Brotzman, University of Iowa
Jeffry Schabilion, University of IowaFollow

Document Type

Research

Keywords

Paleobotany; fossil plants; Lepidophloios; coal balls; Iowa Pennsylvanian

Abstract

Examination of Iowa coal balls from the Des Moines Series has yielded two petrified stern fragments assignable to the arborescent lycopod genus Lepidophloios. Details of the leaf cushions and internal stem anatomy are described and compared with similar specimens from Kansas and Illinois coal balls. In light of these observations, criteria presently used to distinguish among species of Lepidophloios are re-examined. In particular, the diagnostic features of Lepidophloios kansanus (Felix) Eggert and L. pachydermatikos Andrews & Murdy are reviewed and determine to represent ontogenetic differences. The probable conspecific nature of the above taxa results in assignment of the Iowa specimens to L.kansanus sensu lat.

Publication Date

January 1972

Journal Title

Proceedings of the Iowa Academy of Science

Volume

78

Issue

3-4

First Page

44

Last Page

47

Copyright

©1972 Iowa Academy of Science, Inc.

Language

en

File Format

application/pdf

Recommended Citation

Brotzman, Nancy and Schabilion, Jeffry (1972) "Petrified Lepidophloios Specimens from Iowa Coal Balls," Proceedings of the Iowa Academy of Science, 78(3-4), 44-47.
Available at: https://scholarworks.uni.edu/pias/vol78/iss3/5