Large Neuropteris Seed Fern Fossil

Pteridosperms or seed ferns are a group of extinct plants with mostly fern-like foliage but having real seeds. They were mostly small trees but other forms that exhibited climbing growth have been found. Some forms, notably those called the Medullosales as seen here had large fronds which could be up several meters long. Several groups can be distinguished within the Pteridosperms. The Pteridosperms evolved in the latest Devonian, and became common in the Carboniferous. The Medullosales took over the leading role during the Westphalian and persisted into the Permian.

The fossil is in delicate paper shale that is essential plant fossils through its thickness. The fossil comprises a branch with large and small diameter stems, and the delicate diminitive frond leaves. The specimen comes from the Fire Creek Formation (coal country), West Viginia, and dates to the Lower Pennsylvanian.