Three Species of Pinales Fossil Leaves

Description: This shale displays fossil leaves of three species of conifers from the Eocene lacustrine (i.e., lake) deposits of the McAbee Fossil Beds (commonly called Tranquille Shale) Cache Creek, British Columbia, Canada. Interestingly, the Dawn Redwood (Metasequoia occidentalis) frond is of a genus that was first discovered in Korea over 60 years ago. The first living specimens were discovered in central China in 1944.

The McAbee Fossil Beds site is a Konservat-Lagerstätten owing to the exceptional preservation of the flora and fauna. The fossils are the most diverse known in British Columbia for plants and insects of the Eocene. Only a small fraction of the diversity has yet to be formally described. Some 76 plant genera are known so far. The fossil site was recently acquired by the British Columbia provincial government 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.

Also see: McAbee Fossil Beds in science section for plant information