In honour of the United Nations International Day of Forests (21st March 2024), we have posted up a fossil of a prehistoric plant. The photograph (below) shows a specimen of Stigmaria. The Stigmaria fossil was collected from Carboniferous rocks exposed on the island of Anglesey (Wales). Although relatively common fossils, the location from which this specimen was collected has only ever yielded a few examples. This was a fortuitous fossil discovery. Stigmaria fossils are rare at this location.

Stigmaria fossil specimen.
A specimen of Stigmaria from Anglesey (Wales). A fossil specimen of an underground root associated with a Carboniferous lycopsid. It was during the Carboniferous that the first extensive and specious diverse forests evolved. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Circular Scales on the Stigmaria Fossil

The circular scars on the root can be seen. These mark sites of attachment for the rooting structures that branched out helping to secure the lycopsid in the saturated soil and to obtain nutrients from the medium. Stigmaria does not represent a taxon as such. Plant fossils are normally found in isolation. Leaves, roots, bark and branches that actually represent the same genus have been given different scientific names.

Stimaria fossil.
Stigmaria fossil, the circular scales on the fossil can be seen. The scale bar equals 1 cm. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur explained that the first terrestrial plants evolved during the Silurian. It was during the Devonian that the first large land plants evolved. However, it was in the Carboniferous that extensive forests became a feature of our planet. Today, forests play a vital role in mitigating the impact of global warming. The Carboniferous forests too had a substantial impact on the planet’s atmosphere.

Visit the Everything Dinosaur website: Prehistoric Themed Toys and Models.