Rock Type: Gray shale Formation: Allegheny Interval: 5-Block seam Age: Middle Pennsylvanian Period, approx. 303 million years. Pecopteris is the form genus name assigned to the seed fern Psaronius, an extinct tree-like plant known to achieve heights of 50 feet or more with a base of 5 feet or more in diameter. It had a thin skin, at least near it's base, but the multiple layers of adventitious roots which enveloped it likely gave it additional strength. 1. View a close-up image. 2. View a close-up image.

This form genus/species pecopteris miltoni is characterized by having multiple-lobed pinnules (individual leaves) near the base of the larger leaflets. The pinnules near the end of the leaflet are seldom divided. Select close-up 2. above to view these features. Only the larger leaflets show the lobe divisions, however, so the smaller leaflets technically belong to another form species, even though they are attached to the same stem, . Crazy, isn't it?

Eventually the lobed pinnules would grow until they matured to a new leaflet cluster, whose pinnules would in turn progress through the same developmental stages of first straight, then lobed pinnules, on their way to themselves becoming new leaflets.

Location: Lincoln County, West Virginia; Copley Trace Surface Mine #2, located about 10 miles west of Atenville, West Virginia. Take Route 68 west for 3 miles, turn left on Route 68 / 1 (Francis Creek Road) and drive approximately 6 miles. Veer left up Kiah Creek, continue approx. 1.5 miles to Copley Trace. Take next right, proceed up ridge past Meeks Cemetary. Truck access only.