THE DISTRIBUTION OF LIGNIN DERIVATIVES IN FOSSIL PLANTS

Abstract
Lignin derivatives have been obtained from a range of sub-fossil woods and fossil plant compressions by cupric oxide oxidation. Fossil woods yield essentially the same products as wood from living spermatophytes. Although some demethoxylation of the phenolic aldehydes occurs during fossilization, the overall difference between conifer and angiosperm wood is maintained. Compressions of varied plant organs yield recognizable phenolic aldehydes, though often in small amounts.