350-Million-Year-Old ‘Alien’ Tree Unearthed in Canada: Unique Discovery

Researchers have unearthed a 350 million-year-old tree species in New Brunswick, Canada, that seems to have leapt from the pages of a Dr. Seuss book, distinctively different from any tree species present on Earth today. This tree, belonging to the fossilized species Sanfordiacaulis, is noted for its unique 3D crown-like structure and was likely a lower-level dweller in ancient forests.

Robert Gastaldo from Colby College in Waterville, Maine, described the tree as having an unusual appearance with its lengthy leaves encircling a slender trunk in high density over a short segment. He shared with the Independent that this tree represents a singular and bizarre growth form in life’s history, emerging during a period of significant plant diversification in forests. According to Gastaldo, this form was one of evolution’s fleeting experiments.

The tree’s uniqueness is further exemplified in one specimen that shows an extraordinary spread of leaves from its top, a feature rarely seen in the 400-million-year span of the fossil record. Remarkably, this tree has been preserved with its trunk and attached crown leaves intact, a rarity in fossil discoveries.

Gastaldo pointed out the significance of this crown leaf preservation in these ancient fossils, emphasizing that intact crown fossils are seldom found in the history of life.

The researchers suggest that this tree’s distinct growth pattern was an adaptation to maximize light absorption, reducing competition with ground-cover plants. This adaptation indicates that Sanfordiacaulis may represent some of the earliest evidence of smaller trees thriving under the shadow of taller forest canopies, highlighting a period of increased complexity in plant life during the Early Carboniferous.

These findings imply that Sanfordiacaulis existed in an era when plants were experimenting with different forms and architectures. These fossils serve as a testament to the diverse and unconventional tree forms that once populated the Earth millions of years ago.

Gastaldo concluded that such rare and unusual fossils, like the New Brunswick tree, showcase the myriad of life forms that once existed on our planet, even if they were ultimately unsuccessful evolutionary experiments.