OCR Text |
Show The Eureka Reporter Page Four BYll November 8, 1:J74 students QjODGSCS make discovery Paleobotany oca at students Brigham Young University have made a rare discovery of nine prehistoric tree fern fossils standing in growth position. Dr. William D. Tidwell, associate professor of botany and director of the field trip on which the find was made, said to his knowledge there is no recorded instance in modern times of the extinct plant being found in an upright position. The fern, called tempskya, grew extensively in marshlands throughout the Mountain West area during oca Lower the Cretaceous Age. There is no known currently living plant which resembles it. Dr. Tidwell said. Tempskya remained has a mystery, and the recent discovery should help somewhat erf scientists answer many of the questions they have had about it. It is kind of a weird plant an enigma. No one has really known how to classify it, Dr. Tidwell said. John L. Roth, a graduate student from Provo, found the upright fossils buried in a hill south of Castle Dale in Emery County. He was on a fossil hunt with nine other students who were participating in BYUs annual summer paleobotanical field course. On a subsequent trip, the stannine students uncovered ding specimens which (for a paleobotanist) is like uncovering a whole forest, Dr. Tidwell . said. Rockhounds and scientists have found bits and pieces of tempskya plants all over the West. Log remains are usually found lying flat on the ground, and this has led some paleobotanists to speculate that the plant might have grown in a horizontal position. The recent discovery appears to refute that theory. Apparently the upright specimens were slowly covered by sediments which trapped them in place, Dr. Tidwell explained. The carbonaceous materials around the fossils contain shales, sands, and iron pyrite which indicate the area was once a swamp. Another factor which adds to the significance of the discovery is that fossilized leaves were found around the bases of the TTDticb DoUSBOOFCSd SDGOffCBttV times like these, you need something solid to depend on. A sound refuge for your savings dollar. Like a First Security savings certificate paying our all time highest In interest. Its sound because the Intermountain Wests largest financial ization organ- standing behind Its sound because First Security guarantees your interest rate for the life of your certificate. And secure because, billion strong $1 is it. effective November 27th, your savings are upright trunks. Usually we find petrified logs and leaves in separate locations, he noted. It is quite rare to find them together. Graduate paleobotany students are now studying the leaves to see if they actually came from the standing logs. The logs range in diameter from four to 12 inches, and it is estimated some may have grown to six feet in height. Some tempskya plants are believed to have grown to nine feet. The BYU students hope the new discovery will provide in- formation to help scientists g answer several long-standin- questions about the plant such as which end is up? What was the leaf arrangement? And did tempskya grow as a single plant or as several plants in one? Also, effective November 27th, all demand deposits checking accounts are insured to $40,000. All rates per annum, federal regulations require substantial penalty for early withdrawal on certificates. The musk glands of beaver, located near the tail, are widely used as a base for perfume. Generally, ice should be more than four inches thick to he considered safe for ice fishing. Let's Do It To help wipe out cancer it i your lifetime, support' the American Cancer Society. Resources over $1 billion First Security Bank of Utah, N.A. First Security Bank of Idaho, N.A. First Security Bank of Bountiful, Utah. N.A. First Security Bank of Logan, Utah, N.A. First Security Bank of Rock Springs, Wyoming First Security State Bank, Salt Lake City, Utah First Security State Bank of Springville, Utah MEMBER F.DI.C. |