9.5" Fossil Flora (Sphenopteris & Mariopteris) Plate - Kentucky

This is a fossil flora (Sphenopteris sp. and Lycopodites sp.) plate from the Breathitt Formation of Leslie County, Kentucky. Sphenopteris is an extinct genus of fern that reproduced from seed as opposed to sporophyte reproduction of most modern ferns. Mariopteris was a seed fern with relatively small compact fronds which are bifurcated twice. Although it is clear that most mariopterids are seed ferns, their natural affinity remains unclear. Mariopterids obviously had a climbing growth habit. This species, like other mariopteroids, had a vine like growth habit and climbed with specialized climber hooks.

It comes with an acrylic display stand.