Gingko dissecta Plant Fossil from Tranquille Shale

Description: The Ginkgophyta probably originated about the same time as the Cycads during the late Paleozoic, with fossils found in North America until the Miocene. The fan-shaped leaves of most members are quite distinctive. This one is atypical, with deeply dissected leaves with 4 lobes that are further divided, making the derivation of the specific name obvious. Gingko biloba is the only extant member. The flora was dominated by conifers farther away from the lake, and elm, birch, beech, and alder near to the lakeshore. The extant Ginkgo biloba is considered a living fossil.

This specimen is a fine example of a ginko leaf from the lacustrine deposits of the McAbee Flora of the Eocene of British Columbia, Canada with fine preservational details. A shallow lake dominated the region. 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 that bloomed in the lake each spring and died in the summer.