Eocene Birch Fossil Leaf from Cache Creek

Description: This is an example of a leaf from a tree of the Betulaceae (Birch Family) from the lacustrine deposits of the McAbee Flora of the Eocene of British Columbia, Canada. The region was dominated by a shallow lake. 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 which bloomed in the lake each spring and died in the summer. This is a fine example of the preservation for which this biota is known. The flora was dominated by conifers farther away from the lake, and elm, birch, beech, and alder near to the lakeshore. The deeper brown color of the plant matter contrasts well with the lighter matrix, bringing out the detail.