Sanfordiacaulis, a three-dimensionally preserved tree from the Carboniferous of Canada

[Halichoeres]

A very cool fossil from New Brunswick (eastern Canada), preserving the upper part of the trunk and the leaves in situ. The authors interpret it as having been preserved after an earthquake knocked it into a lake. It shows a tree unlike any known from the Carboniferous, with an intermediate height suggesting a sub-canopy niche.

Some photos of the fossil:


And a reconstruction of the living tree:


Paper (I can access it, but I think it's paywalled): https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960982224000113

[Faelrin]

The reconstruction reminds me of a Koosh ball. I dig it. Also wow, can't believe it preserved like that. I don't know much about plant fossils, but the ones I am aware about usually don't have this type of preservation.

[DinoToyForum]

The reconstruction reminds me of a Koosh ball. I dig it. Also wow, can't believe it preserved like that. I don't know much about plant fossils, but the ones I am aware about usually don't have this type of preservation.

It really does look like a Koosh! It's so weird, I would've presumed these were its roots and interpreted the whole thing upside down!

[ceratopsian]

Well I'd never even heard of a Koosh!  Something new learnt.  The tree is extraordinary.

[DinoToyForum]

Well I'd never even heard of a Koosh!  Something new learnt.  The tree is extraordinary.

They even made/make dinosaur Koosh (Kooshes?). I had a Jurassic Park The Lost World one in the 90s, like this one on Ebay: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/304983486226 I'm surprised we haven't had any reviewed on the Dinosaur Toy Blog yet!

[ceratopsian]

Oh my goodness!!  Not something I could ever have visualised! I see that my collection is short of Koosh Stegosaurus and Triceratops!

Well I'd never even heard of a Koosh!  Something new learnt.  The tree is extraordinary.

They even made/make dinosaur Koosh (Kooshes?). I had a Jurassic Park The Lost World one in the 90s, like this one on Ebay: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/304983486226 I'm surprised we haven't had any reviewed on the Dinosaur Toy Blog yet!

[SBell]

I'm going to be in the Maritimes this summer for the first time, we're going to be right in the indicated locality in New Brunswick.

It's a place with geology I know nothing about, so this gives me something to think about. I only thought of paleobiology from Nova Scotia (Joggins, maybe some other things) and Canada's Dimetrodon in PEI (but it won't be there)

[Halichoeres]

Ha ha, it does kind of look like a Koosh ball! Now we need to petition Koosh to make a Sanfordiacaulis.

[Ikessauro]

That is one remarkable find. I wish CollectA or Safari started making prehistoric plants again. Maybe 1 a year is enough for us to get a nice variety for our dioramas. This one would be an awesome option.

[Halichoeres]

That is one remarkable find. I wish CollectA or Safari started making prehistoric plants again. Maybe 1 a year is enough for us to get a nice variety for our dioramas. This one would be an awesome option.

Yeah, I think most people must not buy them. I'm grateful that although CollectA hasn't made any new plants in over a decade, it has at least kept its old ones in production. I order at least one a year, so I have several of each, the only figures I own in multiple.