Green River Formation Fossil Plant Seeds

The Green River Formation deposits of Wyoming, Colorado, and Utah are best known for their immaculately-preserved fish, but other examples are known as well, as this specimen attests. This plaque displays a pair of comose seeds in association with a valved seed pod. Comose seeds are distinguished by their tufts of hair, like those of the cotton plants, which allow for wide dispersal. Valved seed pods often contain many tiny seeds which are dispersed when the valves of the pod open.