A tree without leaves

摘要

The puzzle presented by the famous stumps of Gilboa, New York, finds a solution in the discovery of two fossil specimens that allow the entire structure of these early trees to be reconstructed. The Middle Devonian (397 million to 385 million years ago) was a notable time for the evolution of early land plants. The diversification of reproductive strategies, the advent of leaf precursors, and a tendency to increasing height all led to the rise of plants of modern appearance. One of the best locations for studying these processes is Gilboa, New York, which is internationally renowned for its wide range of organisms from the late Middle Devonian. These organisms include a rich variety of arthropods, for example, but also large, enigmatic stumps (Fig. 1) that in life formed extensive stands and were fossilized where they grew.