What kinds of trees are in the petrfied forest natinal park?

The petrified wood in Petrified Forest National Park comes from huge ancient trees that grew on the floodplains of rivers and lakes approximately 225 million years ago.

At least 16 species of these trees have been identified in the park, but by far the most common are the Araucarioxylon arizonicum trees, which are closely related to the modern Norfolk Island pine.

Araucarioxylon grew 100 to 150 feet tall with diameters up to 10 feet.

Additional plant fossils in the park include:

Logs: Logs as long as 145 feet have been found.

Stumps: Stumps as wide as 14 feet and as high as 10 feet are common.

Leaves: Fragments of broad, fern-like leaves have been found which are believed to have belonged to the trees that produced the petrified wood.

Other Fossil Plants: Horsetails and ferns are present in the park, as well as fossilized fungi.

Current plant life: The park currently has a variety of plant life, including pinyon-juniper woodlands, and grasslands, as well as riparian vegetation along the creeks.