Description
Rare Sigillariostrobus Plant Fossil – Carboniferous Cone Specimen
Available here is a genuine and highly desirable Sigillariostrobus plant fossil, a rare reproductive cone preserved from the renowned Westphalian Coal Measures of the Carboniferous Period. Fossil cones of this type are far less common than typical leaf impressions, making Sigillariostrobus specimens especially prized by collectors, palaeobotany enthusiasts, and natural history display curators.
This specimen originates from Houghton Colliery, Houghton-le-Spring, County Durham, England, one of Britain’s classic historic Coal Measures localities. The fossil has been carefully chosen for its preservation quality and display appeal. The listing photographs show the exact fossil you will receive, and full sizing details can be clearly seen in the images provided.
Every purchase includes a Certificate of Authenticity with lifetime guarantee, supplied as a generic authenticity card to permanently accompany the specimen.
Geological Age and Formation – Westphalian Coal Measures
This plant fossil dates to the Westphalian Stage of the late Carboniferous, approximately 310–315 million years old. At that time, Britain lay near the equator and supported vast tropical wetlands filled with dense vegetation. These ecosystems formed the famous coal swamp forests that eventually produced the coal seams of northern England.
The Coal Measures are sedimentary deposits laid down in swampy river deltas, floodplains, and waterlogged basins. Thick accumulations of plant material became buried in fine muds and silts under low-oxygen conditions, allowing delicate botanical structures to fossilise rather than decay.
It is within these ancient coal-bearing strata that rare reproductive fossils like Sigillariostrobus are sometimes preserved.
Fossil Type and Botanical Significance
Sigillariostrobus is the fossil cone of extinct giant lycopsid trees, most closely associated with the famous Carboniferous genus Sigillaria. These enormous “scale trees” could grow over 30 metres tall and were among the dominant plants of the coal swamp forests.
Unlike modern conifers, Sigillaria and its relatives belonged to the lycophytes, an ancient lineage of spore-producing vascular plants distantly related to today’s clubmosses. Sigillariostrobus cones served as reproductive organs, producing spores that spread through the humid tropical air of the Carboniferous swamps.
Because cones are much rarer in the fossil record than leaves or stems, Sigillariostrobus specimens are scientifically important and highly collectible.
Morphology and Preservation Features
This specimen displays the characteristic compact cone form typical of Sigillariostrobus, often featuring surface patterning where spore-bearing scales were attached. Such fossils provide a remarkable glimpse into the reproductive biology of prehistoric coal forest plants.
Preserved within its original Coal Measures matrix, this fossil offers both scientific interest and striking visual character, making it an excellent cabinet or display piece.
Locality – Houghton Colliery, County Durham, UK
Houghton Colliery is one of County Durham’s historic coal mining sites, known for producing important Carboniferous plant fossils. Specimens from this locality are becoming increasingly scarce as traditional coal exposures disappear, adding rarity and provenance value to this piece.
Owning a fossil from this region connects directly to Britain’s world-famous Carboniferous coal forest heritage.
Authenticity, Display and Collecting
This is a 100% genuine Sigillariostrobus fossil cone specimen, ideal for:
- Serious fossil and palaeobotany collectors
- Carboniferous coal forest enthusiasts
- Educational geology and natural history displays
- Unique gifts from deep time
A rare opportunity to acquire an authentic piece of Britain’s ancient tropical coal swamps, preserved for over 300 million years and supplied with a lifetime Certificate of Authenticity.
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