Photo by Lauri Poldre
Learning how to identify plant fossils is very important because it lets us look into our planet’s past.
Thomas McLoughlin, author of the book A GUIDE TO PENNSYLVANIAN (CARBONIFEROUS) AGE PLANT FOSSILS OF SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA, is a Pennsylvanian book about fossil plants. Mr. McLoughlin talks about the prehistoric fossilized plants buried beneath Earth. The book has a plethora of information that can’t be neglected.
With that said, let’s go ahead and find out how we can identify plant fossils as geologists do. Today, we’ll learn about the different fossil plant species, the best way to identify the fossil species, and more.
The Different Fossil Plant Species
Major climatic indicators include plants. Scientists can analyze the prehistoric temperature of Fossil Lake by using fossilized leaves and plants as prehistoric thermometers. Fossil leaf samples obtained from the Fossil Butte Member (FBM) are challenging to classify at the species level.
1. Soapberry (Deviacer wolfei)
This plant species belongs to the order Sapindales, family Sapindaceae. Some of the living members of this family are:
• Modern species consist of the tropical maple tree and lychee tree
• Present from temperate to tropical areas
• Includes more than 1,800 modern species
2. Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus confucii)
This plant species belongs to the order Sapindales, family Simaroubaceae. Simaroubaceae family has roughly 100 contemporary species, primarily found in tropical and subtropical areas. A few extant species exist in the Ailanthus genus, possibly five to ten. What they’re commonly called are the “Trees of Heaven.”
Ailanthus confucii is:
• found primarily in sediments found in lakes and ponds
• defined by the seed at the center
• a winged fruit
• from fossilized remains found in Europe, North America, and Asia
Ailanthus confucii samples found in the FBM are the earliest known representation from the Simaroubaceae family located in North America, probably worldwide.
3. Gyrocarpus Species
Gyrocarpus specimens show how difficult it is to recognize different species of ancient plants. This species yields:
• 3 lobed specimens
• non-lobed specimens
• 2 lobed specimens
The leaves of the same type of tree can have various appearances.
How to Identify Plant Fossils in the Best Way
The degree of preservation determines a great deal of the capacity to identify fossils. When it comes to leaves, describing the characteristics of the leaves is the best method to determine the species. Looking at lobation, venation pattern, shape, leaf attachment, type of margin, and leaf attachment.
Measuring the leaf’s length from base to apex determines the variety of leaf forms. These measurements can be divided into four main shapes:
• Obovate (the leaf’s widest section is near its apex)
• Elliptic (the leaf’s widest section is at the center)
• Ovate (the leaf’s widest section is found near its base)
• Oblong (the opposite margins near the center of the leaf run parallel and have the same width)
Thomas McLoughlin’s Pennsylvanian book about fossil plants can help if you need more details. It offers an in-depth look at the various fossil plant species he has unearthed. All of them are from the Carboniferous age, which is helpful for those who wish to learn how to identify plant fossils.
Why is Learning How to Identify Plant Fossils Important?
Learning about the evolution of the Earth’s climate is one of the goals of studying ancient plants. For instance, leaves may be used to calculate climate factors like annual rainfall and mean temperature. After knowing all this, we may compare the fossilized plants and megafauna from the same location.
We can also discover how the plant fossils and climate interact with one another. Like comprehending the seasonal migration patterns of the megafauna, which are visible in the fossilized plant remains. By focusing solely on the megafauna, we can only learn a relatively small amount about the planet’s past.
Examining the fossil plant helps us gain a broader perspective. Plus, we can piece together and fully comprehend the paleo-ecology that defined the old world if we connect the evidence.
Time to Fully Grasp the Bigger Picture of Our Past
Now that you know how to identify plant fossils, it’s time for you to fully grasp the bigger picture of our past. Thomas McLoughlin is here to provide a reliable source of information with his Pennsylvanian book about fossil plants.
Purchase a copy of his book by visiting his website today. Check out our other posts, and learn what mysteries plant fossils hide!
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