PALAEOBOTANICAL RESEARCH GROUP
UNIVERSITY  MÜNSTER

HISTORY  OF PALAEOZOIC  FORESTS
CORDAITES


The Cordaites are a completely extinct group of gymnosperms with very characteristic, mostly long, strap-shaped leaves. This group includes large trees as well as shrub-like plants. The stems had well developed secondary wood and an internal cavity that was subdivided by horizontal septae. Infillings of this central cavity are known as Artisia. The fructifications consists of cone-like strobili with either seeds, or pollen sacs have been described as Cordaianthus. Although the foliage is rather uniform, cordaites are known to have occurred in various habitats, varying from mangrove-like environments to dry hinterland areas.

 

Taxon / Subject
Web Source
Comments
Pics
Info
Cordaites is the name given to the foliage of the Cordaites.  Leaves are mostly, long, strap-shaped with parallel veins.  Although several species have been established, individual taxa are difficult to recognize and their classification is very artificial.   The leaf-bearing axes have been described as Cordaicladus.
Cordaites Virtual Paleobotany Laboratory  
Cordaites Virtual Paleobotany Laboratory  cross section through a leaf
Cordaites principalis Fossils of Nova Scotia  
Cordaites principalis Hans Steur's Palaeobotany Pages  
Cordaites principalis Hans Steur's Palaeobotany Pages   
Cordaites M. Hieb's Plant Fossils of West Virginia stem with a leaf
Cordaites M. Hieb's Plant Fossils of West Virginia  
Cordaites  Hans Steur's Palaeobotany Pages  
Cordaicladus Hans Steur's Palaeobotany Pages  
Cordaianthus is the name commonly used for the male and female strobili.  Seeds have been described as Cardiocarpus and Samaropsis. 
Cordaianthus Virtual Paleobotany Laboratory  
Cordaianthus williamsii Virtual Paleobotany Laboratory coal ball peel
Cordaianthus Collection Jens-Wilhelm Janzen  
Cordaianthus Hans Steur's Palaeobotany Pages  
Cordaianthus Hans Steur's Palaeobotany Pages  
Cordaianthus Hans Steur's Palaeobotany Pages  
Cardiocarpus spinosus Virtual Paleobotany Laboratory longitudinal section
Cardiocarpus (Samaropsis) Virtual Paleobotany Laboratory  
Infillings of the central cavity of the stems have been described as Artisia. Mesoxylon is a genus of cordaite wood.  Cordaite roots are known as Amyelon.
Artisia horizontalis M. Hieb's Plant Fossils of West Virginia compression aspect
Artisia horizontalis M. Hieb's Plant Fossils of West Virginia compression aspect
Artisia M. Hieb's Plant Fossils of West Virginia  
Artisia Fossils of Nova Scotia compression aspect
Artisia Fossils of Nova Scotia a superb specimen
Artisia Hans Steur's Palaeobotany Pages  
Mesoxlon Virtual Paleobotany Laboratory as above in coal ball
Mesoxylon iowense Virtual Paleobotany Laboratory wood in tangential section
Amyelon Virtual Paleobotany Laboratory  
Amyelon Hans Steur's Palaeobotany Pages  
Cordaites
Cordaites Virtual Paleobotany Laboratory  
 
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Disclaimer

The last check of the list of links was done on 6  December  2002. The links give the most direct connections to pictures available on the web; in many cases they are from sites that have additional palaeobotanical information.  The above ratings refer to: 
1. Pics: the quality of the specimens, particularly with regard to characteristic features, and to the quality of the pictures. 
2. Info: the additional information provided.
Ratings are of course subjective but should be helpful for finding the fastest way to good pictures on the web. Own pictures are of course not rated. This is up to you! 
Suggestions for improvement and hints to other internet resources are most welcome

© Forschungsstelle für Paläobotanik, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster
updated: December 2002