This is the “Fossil Friday” post #276.  Expect this to be a somewhat regular feature of the website.  We will post any fossil pictures you send in to esconi.info@gmail.com.  Please include a short description or story.  Check the #FossilFriday Twitter hash tag for contributions from around the world!

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This week’s Fossil Friday is a Lycopodites meekii (see Mazon Monday #125) from Mazon Creek.  Lycopodites meekii are foliaged lycophyte twigs.  They were described in 1870 by Leo Lesquereux. L. meekii are probably the terminal branches of Bothrodendren minutifolium or a similar plant.  These plants were herbaceous resembling the modern day Lycopodium, a club moss, having needle shaped leaves on small branches.  Related to Lepidodendron, known as scale trees, this group of extinct plants make up a significant portion of the plant matter in the Carboniferous coal deposits of Illinois.

This particular specimen was collected from the Meneoka Club on August 28th, 1970 by Jim and Sylvia Konecny.  Jim and Sylvia were very active members of ESCONI during the 1960s and 1970s.  They were known for their significant contributions to the club.  The fossil worm Priapulites konecniorum is named in their honor.