Stigmaria stellata (GÖPP.) GÖPP.

Stigmaria stellata (GÖPP.) GÖPP. in Bronn 1848

Text-fig. 5c View Text-fig

1841 Stigmaria ficoides var. stellata GÖPP. , p. 19, pl. 10, fig. 12.

1848 Stigmaria stellata (GÖPP.) GÖPP. in Bronn, p. 1201.

1966 Stigmaria stellata (GÖPP.) GÖPP. ; Crookall, p. 558, pl. 104, fig. 5.

D e s c r i p t i o n. Casts and compressions of axes up to 70 mm wide, surfaces covered with circular to oval scars 2–5 mm in size; scars have a slightly raised rim and a prominent raised vascular cicatrix. Each scar surrounded by 2–3 mm long radiating ridges giving a stellate-appearance.

R e m a r k s. This distinctive fossil-species only seems to occur in lower Carboniferous macrofloras and can be

Limestone Coal Formation; BGS Kidst.4290. d: Mesocalamites haueri (STUR) HIRMER ; left bank of stream, lower side of old stone bridge, Bilston Burn, near Polton, Midlothian; Bed underlying No. 6 Limestone, Upper Limestone Formation; BGS Kidst.4426. e: Mesocalamites taitianus (KIDST. et JONGM.) HIRMER ; left bank of stream, lower side of old stone bridge, Bilston Burn, near Polton, Midlothian; Bed underlying No. 6 Limestone, Upper Limestone Formation; BGS Kidst.4428. All scale bars = 10 mm.

distinguished from the more widespread Stigmaria ficoides (STERNB.) BRONGN. by the stallate surface markings on the axes between the root scars. Crookall (1966) suggested that they were the rhizophores of Lepidodendron veltheimii STERNB. (see also Jennings 1973). At one locality in the Limestone Coal Formation (Stripeside Pit, Herbertshire Colliery), Crookall (1966) also reported specimens of Stigmaria ficoides in association with S. stellata . However, these Stripeside Pit specimens are merely poorly preserved examples of S. stellata .

O c c u r r e n c e s. Limestone Coal Formation, between the Johnstone Shell Bed and the coal-bearing interval above the Black Metals Band; also, from below the Orchard Limestone (Upper Limestone Formation).