Rhacopteris Seed Fern Fossil from Australia

Description: After the early Carboniferous, the opening outwards of the eastern side of Pangaea by continental drift sent Australia towards the South Pole. As a consequence, temperatures were substantially cooler than previously. The Rhacopteris Flora, named from this genus, developed during this colder climate, and became characteristic of the middle to late Carboniferous of the region. The Rhacopterids were primitive seed ferns that died out by the Permian. This specimen is literally covered with fine examples, making for a very showy example of the type.