asteroxylon
|as-te-ro-xy-lon|
/ˌæs.tə.rəˈzɪl.ən/
star + wood → fossil plant genus
Etymology
'Asteroxylon' originates from Ancient Greek, specifically the elements 'aster' meaning 'star' and 'xylon' meaning 'wood'.
'Asteroxylon' was coined as a scientific (Latinized) genus name in palaeobotany in the early 20th century for Devonian fossil plants (e.g. Asteroxylon mackiei) and has been used in scientific literature since.
The compound originally literally meant 'star wood' (referring to morphological features such as star-shaped tissues) and over time has come to be used solely as the formal genus name for those fossil plants.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a fossil genus of early vascular (lycopsid) land plants known from the Early Devonian, notably Asteroxylon mackiei described from the Rhynie chert.
Asteroxylon specimens from the Rhynie chert provide important information about early land-plant anatomy.
Last updated: 2025/11/06 05:02