Callixylon tree

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Coordinates: 34°27′53″N 96°23′57″W / 34.46463°N 96.39917°W / 34.46463; -96.39917
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Callixylon tree
Callixylon whiteanum
LocationEast Central University, Ada, Oklahoma, US
Coordinates34°27′53″N 96°23′57″W / 34.46463°N 96.39917°W / 34.46463; -96.39917[1]
Date seededEstimated to be 250,000,000 years ago
Websitehttps://www.ecok.edu/community/centennial/time-viewer/callixylon-tree-1936

The Callixylon tree is a 250,000,000 year old

Callixylon
in the world.

Discovery

The Callixylon tree was discovered by John Fitts in 1913 at a farm near Goose Creek, south of

Devonian period.[2] It was later discovered to be a member of the same family as the genus Archaeopteris.[3] It was a series of pieces that were eventually reconstructed to form a full eight foot tall stump.[4]

Conflict

For twenty-three years (1913–1936) the

Washington D.C. and East Central University
were vying for possession of the Callixylon tree. David White, head of the
U.S. Geological Survey and Curator of Paleobotany
at the Smithsonian Institution came from Washington D.C. to examine the fossil and decided it should be displayed at the Smithsonian, not ECU. ECU supporters raised money for erecting the tree fragments into a tree shape and moving it to campus. White died before enough funds had been raised to move the tree to the Smithsonian and as a result the tree was given to East Central University as a gift and memorial. The Callixylon tree was formally accepted by president of ECU at the time, President Linscheid in March, 1936. The plaque at the base of the tree is dedicated to White. The Callixylon tree stump, partially reconstructed, is currently on display at the entrance to East Central University's campus.[5]

Plaque

This is the plaque placed at the base of the Callixylon Tree in memorial of David White. It reads as follows:

CALLIXYLON TREE OF DEVONIAN AGE

PONTOTOC COUNTY, OKLAHOMA.

DEDICATED TO

DAVID WHITE

CURATOR OF PALEOBOTANY OF SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTE [sic]

AND PRINCIPAL GEOLOGIST OF U. S. G. S.

PRESENTED TO THE COLLEGE BY

JOHN FITTS

1935.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Callixylon Whiteanum Stump - Ada, OK - Rock and Mineral Displays on Waymarking.com".
  2. ^ "Devonian Period - geochronology".
  3. JSTOR 2805124
    .
  4. ^ Suneson, Niel H. (May 2010). Petrified Wood in Oklahoma (PDF). Oklahoma Geological Survey. p. 15.
  5. ^ "Callixylon tree, 1936". Archived from the original on 2017-01-31. Retrieved 2017-01-19.
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