Green River Winged Seed Plant Fossil

Description: 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 fine samara, or winged seed. A samara has a flattened wing of fibrous tissue whose winged shape allows for wide dispersal. The seed may be at the end of a wing, as here, or in the center. Samaras are common to ashes and maples.