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FERNS
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ILLINOIS
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| Gorgeous Asterophyllites From Mazon Creek |
| Stock Number FPFMC10 |
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Name:
Asterophyllites equisetiformis
Age: Pennsylvanian
Formation: Carbondale Formation
Location: Braidwood, Illinois
Size: Concretion is 4.4 inches long.
In the Pennsylvanian of Illinois, a gigantic rush-like plant named Calamites grew up to fifty feet tall. The leaves of the plant were always borne in whorls, entirely surrounding the slender branches. This specimen, Asterophyllites equisetiformis, is a gorgeous example of those leaves. The fossil is preserved in a siderite concretion. Both halves (part and counterpart) of the concretion are present. Seven distinct whorls of leaves are easily seen. The individual, linear leaves are quite evident. This is a very collectable specimen of Asterophyllites from the coal mines of Illinois. (Because of their characteristic appearance, specimens such as this one were called fossil asters by the coal miners.)
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