Ancient Clones
This family circle of fossilized stumps grew out of the single trunk of an older parent tree. The three trunks are ancient clones, or genetically identical copies, of that parent tree.
Modern coastal redwoods also reproduce by stump sprouting. If a redwood is toppled or burned, a ring of new trees often sprouts from burls around the trunk's base. In the coastal redwood forests, family groups are common. But this trio of stone stump is unique in the world's fossil record.
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If the main trunk of a redwood is damaged, the dormant stems begin growing rapidly, using the parent tree's root system for nourishment and support.
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Harry D. MacGinitie, shown standing by a modern redwood trio in California, was a paleobotanist who excavated fossils at Florissant during the Great Depression years of 1936 and 1937.
His work, published in 1953, is still the most comprehensive study on Florissant's fossil plants. MacGinitie was the first to compare these fossils with modern vegetation in order to reconstruct past climate, ecology, and elevation.
Erected by
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Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Environment • Paleontology • Parks & Recreational Areas • Science & Medicine. A significant historical year for this entry is 1936.
Location. 38° 54.818′ N, 105° 17.18′ W. Marker is near Florissant, Colorado, in Teller County. Marker is under the large Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument pavilion covering exposed petrified Redwood stumps, west of the Visitor Center. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 15807 County Road 1, Florissant CO 80816, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Just One Piece at a Time (a few steps from this marker); Layers of Time (a few steps from this marker); Is the Trio in Trouble? (a few steps from this marker); Dawn of the Recent Past (a few steps from this marker); Reading the Rings (a few steps from this marker); Delicate Impressions (a few steps from this marker); Florissant Valley Today (a few steps from this marker); Ancient Forest Diversity (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Florissant.
Also see . . .
1. Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument. (Submitted on October 23, 2020, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
2. History of paleontology at the Florissant fossil beds, Colorado.
Credits. This page was last revised on October 23, 2020. It was originally submitted on October 23, 2020, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 100 times since then and 11 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 23, 2020, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.
