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Glite Dictionary
🌳 A plant genus 🌳 A fossil plant
Lepidodendron

Lepidodendron

1 9.9
A tree-like plant from ancient forests known only from fossils
  • proper noun
  • /ˌlɛpɪˈdɒndron/
  • Specialized
: Lepidodendron
  • The fossilized trunk of a Lepidodendron was discovered in the coal mine.

Examples

  • Lepidodendron was a large Carboniferous tree reaching heights of 100 feet.

  • Scientists study Lepidodendron to understand ancient forest ecosystems.

  • Many coal deposits contain remains of Lepidodendron and other prehistoric plants.

  • Lepidodendron was massive.

  • Look at this Lepidodendron fossil!

  • Lepidodendron was a heterosporous tree common in coal swamps.

  • Lepidodendron reached nearly 40 meters in height, with trunks nearly 2 meters in diameter.

Surface Forms

Lepidodendron main

Morphology

Lepidodendron = lepido + dendron

The parts are classical Greek combining forms that are not productive standalone English words, so an average learner cannot reliably derive the meaning from the components.

Etymology

The name Lepidodendron uses Greek parts lepis 'scale' and dendron 'tree' because its fossil trunks look covered with scale-shaped leaf scars. That is why this extinct plant is thought of as a tree with a scaly trunk.