This is Mazon Monday post #124.  What’s your favorite Mazon Creek fossil?  Tell us at email:esconi.info@gmail.com.

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Lepidostrobophyllum majus is a cone bract.  In modern plants, the woody pieces of a pine cone are the bracts.  L. majus are the largest species found in the Mazon Creek biota.  The cones these bracts were part of were Lepidodendron or Sigillaria, which were 

It was described way back in 1829 by Adolphe-Theodore Brongniart (1701-1876), who was a French paleontologist, considered by many to be the father of paleobotany.

Lepidostrobophyllum majus appears on page 34 of “A Comprehensive Guide to the Fossil Flora of Mazon Creek” by Jack Wittry.

Lepidostrobophyllum majus Brongniart, 1829

1829. Lepidostrobus major Brongniart: p. 87
1866. Lepidostrobus auriculatum Lesquereux: p. 457, pl. 36, fig. 6
1870. Lepidostrobus rostellatum Lesquereux: p. 443, pl. 31, fig. 8
1870. Lepidostrobus striatum Lesquereux: p. 443, pl. 31, fig. 9
1880. Lepidostrobus auriculatum Lesquereux: p. 450
1880. Lepidostrobus rostellatum Lesquereux: p. 451
1880. Lepidostrobus striatum Lesquereux: p. 452
1940. Lepidostrobophyllum majus Brongniart; Janssen: p. 35, pl. 10, figs. 1-3
1958. Lepidostrobophyllum majus Brongniart; Langford: p. 99, fig. 183
1966. Lepidostrobus major Brongniart; Crookall: p. 515, pl. 102, fig. 3
1979. Lepidostrobophyllum majus Brongniart; Janssen: p. 63, fig. 45

DESCRIPTION: The bracts can become large, reaching as much as 14 cm in total length but averaging about 7.5 cm. The lamina is lanceolate, widest in the middle, and tapers gradually to a sharp apex. Three midveins are strongly marked, forming a raised central band.

REMARKS: Lepidostrobophyllum majus is common and the most frequently occurring strobophyll in the Mazon Creek flora. It is fairly common in all areas of a similiar age.

Specimens

Field Museum

From George’s Basement

From an ESCONI member