IMMENSE Permian Glossopteris ampla Leaf Assemblage

Description: Glossopteris leaves are a widespread fossil, but are difficult to assign by species because of the wide variety of venation patterns and morphology. They are found throughout what was once Gondwnana, another support for continental drift. The genus derives its name from the Greek words for tongue and fern. They favored a swampy habitat, and some had leaves up to a meter in length. The leaves have only rarely ever been found attached to braches, but the restoration here is of one that had a tree-like habit. The specimens here are easy to characterize as G. ampla because of their size. This species is the record holder for Glossopteris with leaves as much as a METER in length. Few Glossopteris leaves have been found in strata younger than the Permian, a time that closed with the greatest of all mass extinctions on the planet. The deposits are infiltrated by iron minerals whose staining results in dramatic specimens that are highly prized by collectors. The example seen here is replete with leaves on both sides.