New dataon Upper Carboniferous silicified stems of calamites from the Nová Paka region
Abstract
The described silicified stems of calamites come from sediments near the town Nová Paka, which are of the Stephanian C age. All of them are characterized by an alternation of interfascicular rays and fascicular wedges with only one type of tracheids and important amount of parenchyma, so they belong to the form genus Arthropitys Goeppert. Cathodoluminescence analysis shows quite well preservation of a specific pattern, which might point to a volcanic influence during silicification. Based on the presence of hygrophilous elements, the paleoenvironment and climatic conditions of the site where the plants originally grew can be considered as rather humid and swampy.