{"id":9920,"date":"2021-05-20T15:34:22","date_gmt":"2021-05-20T19:34:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/umorf.ummp.lsa.umich.edu\/wp\/?page_id=9920"},"modified":"2022-01-14T13:14:31","modified_gmt":"2022-01-14T18:14:31","slug":"mi-backyard-fossils-plants","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/umorf.ummp.lsa.umich.edu\/wp\/mi-backyard-fossils-plants\/","title":{"rendered":"MI Backyard Fossils Plants"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"341\" src=\"https:\/\/umorf.ummp.lsa.umich.edu\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/mi-backyard-fossils-banner-4-1-1024x341.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-9580\" srcset=\"https:\/\/umorf.ummp.lsa.umich.edu\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/mi-backyard-fossils-banner-4-1-1024x341.png 1024w, https:\/\/umorf.ummp.lsa.umich.edu\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/mi-backyard-fossils-banner-4-1-300x100.png 300w, https:\/\/umorf.ummp.lsa.umich.edu\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/mi-backyard-fossils-banner-4-1-768x256.png 768w, https:\/\/umorf.ummp.lsa.umich.edu\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/mi-backyard-fossils-banner-4-1-150x50.png 150w, https:\/\/umorf.ummp.lsa.umich.edu\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/mi-backyard-fossils-banner-4-1.png 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"top\">Plants<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Rocks from the Carboniferous Period in Michigan contain various plant fossils, with localities in Jackson, Ingham, Eaton, Shiawassee, Saginaw, and Bay Counties being well-documented.  Coal deposits are also found in Michigan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Below are some images and descriptions of just a few common plant fossils that can be found in Michigan. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Please note! The categories below are labeled by the modern relatives of these fossilized plants. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:31px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-gallery columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><a href=\"#club-moss\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/umorf.ummp.lsa.umich.edu\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/lepidodendron-1024x768.png\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"10050\" data-link=\"https:\/\/umorf.ummp.lsa.umich.edu\/wp\/?attachment_id=10050\" class=\"wp-image-10050\" srcset=\"https:\/\/umorf.ummp.lsa.umich.edu\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/lepidodendron-1024x768.png 1024w, https:\/\/umorf.ummp.lsa.umich.edu\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/lepidodendron-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/umorf.ummp.lsa.umich.edu\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/lepidodendron-768x576.png 768w, https:\/\/umorf.ummp.lsa.umich.edu\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/lepidodendron-150x113.png 150w, https:\/\/umorf.ummp.lsa.umich.edu\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/lepidodendron.png 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><a href=\"#horsetails\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/umorf.ummp.lsa.umich.edu\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/annularia-1024x768.png\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"10049\" data-link=\"https:\/\/umorf.ummp.lsa.umich.edu\/wp\/?attachment_id=10049\" class=\"wp-image-10049\" srcset=\"https:\/\/umorf.ummp.lsa.umich.edu\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/annularia-1024x768.png 1024w, https:\/\/umorf.ummp.lsa.umich.edu\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/annularia-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/umorf.ummp.lsa.umich.edu\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/annularia-768x576.png 768w, https:\/\/umorf.ummp.lsa.umich.edu\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/annularia-150x113.png 150w, https:\/\/umorf.ummp.lsa.umich.edu\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/annularia.png 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:307px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"club-moss\">Club Moss Relatives (<em>Lepidodendron<\/em>  and <em>Stigmaria<\/em>)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:48px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong><em>Lepidodendron<\/em><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>In Michigan, plant material is found in Pennsylvanian, late Carboniferous, aged rock (323  \u2013  298 million years ago). <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">It kind of looks like a pineapple!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Impressions of the bark of <em>Lepidodendron,&nbsp;<\/em>a large, tree-like plant related to club mosses are relatively common.  The leaf scars on the trunk form a pattern that resembles the outer surface of a pineapple.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This plant was a common component of the ancient coal swamps of the Carboniferous, remnants of which we find here in Michigan. This plant is often mistaken for fossilized reptile or dinosaur scales.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/umorf.ummp.lsa.umich.edu\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/432_Lab_4_009_02crop.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"341\" src=\"https:\/\/umorf.ummp.lsa.umich.edu\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Lepidodendron-1200x400-1-1024x341.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-10055\" srcset=\"https:\/\/umorf.ummp.lsa.umich.edu\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Lepidodendron-1200x400-1-1024x341.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/umorf.ummp.lsa.umich.edu\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Lepidodendron-1200x400-1-300x100.jpg 300w, https:\/\/umorf.ummp.lsa.umich.edu\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Lepidodendron-1200x400-1-768x256.jpg 768w, https:\/\/umorf.ummp.lsa.umich.edu\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Lepidodendron-1200x400-1-150x50.jpg 150w, https:\/\/umorf.ummp.lsa.umich.edu\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Lepidodendron-1200x400-1.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption>Click on the image for a closer view<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"#top\">Back to Top<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:61px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><em><strong>Stigmaria<\/strong><\/em><strong> (Roots)<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>In Michigan, plant material is found in Pennsylvanian, late Carboniferous, aged rock (323  \u2013  298 million years ago).  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The &#8220;roots&#8221; of <em>Lepidodendron<\/em> and similar plants are also commonly found in Michigan as natural casts.  These are identified as the form genus <em>Stigmaria<\/em>.  Usually, these root-like structures are covered in little dimples or depressions where smaller &#8220;rootlets&#8221; emerged.  Specimens with attached rootlets are uncommon but are also found.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What&#8217;s a &#8220;form genus&#8221;?  The different parts of fossil plants are often not found connected as a single object.  A form genus is a name given to part of a fossil plant when it is not clear exactly which plant it came from.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"341\" src=\"https:\/\/umorf.ummp.lsa.umich.edu\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Stigmaria-1200x400-1024x341.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-10063\" srcset=\"https:\/\/umorf.ummp.lsa.umich.edu\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Stigmaria-1200x400-1024x341.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/umorf.ummp.lsa.umich.edu\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Stigmaria-1200x400-300x100.jpg 300w, https:\/\/umorf.ummp.lsa.umich.edu\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Stigmaria-1200x400-768x256.jpg 768w, https:\/\/umorf.ummp.lsa.umich.edu\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Stigmaria-1200x400-150x50.jpg 150w, https:\/\/umorf.ummp.lsa.umich.edu\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Stigmaria-1200x400.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption>Click on the image for a closer view<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:39px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"#top\">Back to Top<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:372px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"horsetails\">Horsetail Relatives (<em>Calamites<\/em>  and <em>Annularia<\/em>)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:44px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><em><strong>Calamites<\/strong><\/em><strong> (Stem\/Trunk)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>In Michigan, plant material is found in Pennsylvanian, late Carboniferous, aged rock (323  \u2013  298 million years ago).  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Michigan was also home to other large, tree-like plants closely related to modern horsetails.  Natural internal casts of the stems of these plants are known by the form genus <em>Calamites<\/em>.  Size and retention of the original cylindrical form are variable.  Click <a href=\"https:\/\/umorf.ummp.lsa.umich.edu\/wp\/specimen-data\/?Model_ID=1623\">here<\/a> to view a 3D model of <em>Calamites<\/em> from Grand Ledge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Identification Tips:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>1. Vertical striations <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>2. Vertical striations are separated by horizontal bands (nodes) in a relatively uniform pattern. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/umorf.ummp.lsa.umich.edu\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/calamites-1200x400.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"341\" src=\"https:\/\/umorf.ummp.lsa.umich.edu\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/calamites-1200x400-1024x341.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-10066\" srcset=\"https:\/\/umorf.ummp.lsa.umich.edu\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/calamites-1200x400-1024x341.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/umorf.ummp.lsa.umich.edu\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/calamites-1200x400-300x100.jpg 300w, https:\/\/umorf.ummp.lsa.umich.edu\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/calamites-1200x400-768x256.jpg 768w, https:\/\/umorf.ummp.lsa.umich.edu\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/calamites-1200x400-150x50.jpg 150w, https:\/\/umorf.ummp.lsa.umich.edu\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/calamites-1200x400.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption>Click on the image for a closer view<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:29px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"#top\">Back to Top<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:75px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong><em>Annularia<\/em> (Leaves)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>In Michigan, plant material is found in Pennsylvanian, late Carboniferous, aged rock (323  \u2013  298 million years ago).  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The foliage was similar to that of some modern horsetails, forming star-like patterns at intervals along the stems.  The form genus for these fossils is <em>Annularia<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Identification Tips<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>1. Recognizable by a cluster or group of leaves that are long and skinny <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>2. Clusters of leaves are found at nodes along the stems <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/umorf.ummp.lsa.umich.edu\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/annularia-1200x400.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"341\" src=\"https:\/\/umorf.ummp.lsa.umich.edu\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/annularia-1200x400-1024x341.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-10069\" srcset=\"https:\/\/umorf.ummp.lsa.umich.edu\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/annularia-1200x400-1024x341.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/umorf.ummp.lsa.umich.edu\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/annularia-1200x400-300x100.jpg 300w, https:\/\/umorf.ummp.lsa.umich.edu\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/annularia-1200x400-768x256.jpg 768w, https:\/\/umorf.ummp.lsa.umich.edu\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/annularia-1200x400-150x50.jpg 150w, https:\/\/umorf.ummp.lsa.umich.edu\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/annularia-1200x400.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption> Click on the image for a closer view<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:37px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"#top\">Back to Top<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:100px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Plants Rocks\u2026<\/p>\n<p class=\"continue-reading-button\"> <a class=\"continue-reading-link\" href=\"https:\/\/umorf.ummp.lsa.umich.edu\/wp\/mi-backyard-fossils-plants\/\">Continue reading<i class=\"crycon-right-dir\"><\/i><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/umorf.ummp.lsa.umich.edu\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/9920"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/umorf.ummp.lsa.umich.edu\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/umorf.ummp.lsa.umich.edu\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/umorf.ummp.lsa.umich.edu\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/umorf.ummp.lsa.umich.edu\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9920"}],"version-history":[{"count":23,"href":"https:\/\/umorf.ummp.lsa.umich.edu\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/9920\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12423,"href":"https:\/\/umorf.ummp.lsa.umich.edu\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/9920\/revisions\/12423"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/umorf.ummp.lsa.umich.edu\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9920"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}