Eocene Cache Creek Beech Fossil Leaf

Description: This plaque displays a nice example of a leaf from an extinct Beech called Fagopsis and is a fine example of the preservation for which this biota is known. It was originally thought to be the same as the extant Beech Fagus until the fruiting body was found to be different. It comes ffrom the lacustrine deposits of the McAbee Flora of the Eocene of British Columbia, Canada with fine preservational details. The region was dominated by a shallow lake. Plant matter which fell into the water was covered with a fine layer of silt which built up over the years as a result of deposition of diatoms which bloomed in the lake each spring and died in the summer. This is a fine example of the preservation for which this biota is known., The flora was dominated by conifers farther away from the lake, and elm, birch, beech, and alder near to the lakeshore. The location from which this specimen was collected has recently been acquired by the provincial government of British Columbia and declared a heritage site. As a consequence specimens like this that were collected from before the declaration will become increasingly in demand as no further material will be available.