Fossil Climber Vine Mariopteris - Very Detailed

This is a very detailed specimen of the rare climber vine, Mariopteris muricata from the Upper Silesia Coal Basin of Poland. It's preserved on an orange colored matrix while plant fossils from this area are black on black.

Marioptris 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.