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Paleontology Study Group May 17, 2003Chairman John Good called the last meeting of the season to order. Dorothy Auler reported that Andrew Hay was hospitalized again and all wished him a speedy recovery. Future Paleontology Group MeetingsSeptember 20 Show & Tell October 18 Tetrapods with Jim Schmidt Jack Wirrty reported that Mazon Creek Open House might be held in conjunction with next year’s Burpee Paleofest in February 2004. There is a field trip to Braceville tomorrow. John Good is working on other field trips. The Chicagoland Show is coming up and Paleo should put in a case, probably with Mazon Creek fossils. Mazon Creek Flora with Jack Wittry Member Jack Wittry presented the results of his extensive study of the Mazon Creek Flora literature and several collections including the Field Museum and the Illinois State Museum. His summary is listed on the Mazon Creek Flora Page. He went through the true and tree ferns primarily in the order they are in in the ESCONI Fossil Plant book. He indicated that there are some classification problems primarily because of the independent naming of fossils here in North America and in Europe. There were missing holotypes, and bad synonyms. He also talked with Tidwell and Cleal (of Wales) who are experts on fossil plants. Jack thanked the Field Museum for most of the photos he showed. The list gives the primary name and then in parenthesis the other names found are listed along with the numbered references listed. George Langford did like to name a lot of the plants found. Number 4 had a name change 13 years ago by Leveine to change Neuropteris rarinervis to Laveineopteris rarinervis. Number 8 is a work in progress and they are working on it in Europe. The next group has Paripteris that is not found in Mazon Creek. They, unlike Neuropteris with a single terminal pinnule, have a double terminal pinnule. Lobatopyeris miltoni is also not found in North America. There were also some miscellaneous changes listed. Jack then clarified nomenclature, defining pinnules and venation and the various structures seen in the fossils. He showed 5 classifications. He then showed slides with many examples of the flora of Mazon Creek in the same order as they are in our book starting with Equistites on page 22, which is a swirl of pinnules (floweret) at a node on Calamites. In addition to many that are in our book, he showed us others that are not. He showed us an undescribed worm under the heading of “Most Wanted”. It is about 6 in long and there are 6 specimens. There is also one specimen of an oligochaete with no parapoda, no setae, and no jaws. He would like to see others like them. The meeting was adjourned for refreshments and further discussion. Respectfully Submitted Karen Nordquist, Secretary Return To Home Page | Go to Paleontology Study Group Last Updated 8/6/2003
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