Name: Annularia
stellata
Division: Equisetophyta;
Class: Equisetopsida; Order: Equisetales; Family: Calamitaceae; Genus:
Annularia (extinct)
Age: Carboniferous
Duckmantian Stage (330 million years old)
Size (25.4
mm = 1 inch): 130 mm tall by 55 mm wide on a 180 mm by 83 mm matrix
Location:
Montceau Les Mines, France
Description:
This fine specimen shows two leaflets of Calamites, a member of
the Calamitales which belong to the Sphenophytes. Whorls of small
leaflets are arranged concentrically around a thin stem and are
called Annularia or Asterophyllites. Calamites itself is the name
originally given to a stem section (see my other offerings), but
now applies to the entire plant. These were indicative of humid
to wet habitats such as along rivers and lake shores. This one is
quite affordable for such a fine large example of multiple whorls
that comes from the coal-producing regions of France. The only living
example of the sphenophytes is the horsetail Equisetum. The reverse
shows several other plant fragments, making for a fine representation
of the ancient Carboniferous forests of the region.
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