This virtual collection was last curated by Elizabeth Hermsen and Jonathan Hendricks on August 16, 2019. Each model is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Unless otherwise indicated, each model was created by Emily Hauf using specimens at the Paleontological Research Institution, Ithaca, New York.
Order Cordaitales
Foliage
Leaves of the fossil gymnosperm Cordaites lingulatus from the Carboniferous of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania (PRI 50480). Specimen is on display at the Museum of the Earth, Ithaca, New York.
Seeds
Fossil specimens of Cordaicarpon sp. from the Pennsylvanian of Michigan. Cordaicarpon is a genus of seeds (the circular structures, one indicated by an orange arrow drawn on the specimen). The associated parallel-veined leaves are also from a cordaitalean plant. Cordaitales are a Paleozoic order related to conifers. Specimen is from the Cornell University Paleobotanical Collection (CUPC), Ithaca, New York (#1213.3). Length of rock is approximately 14.5 cm.
Numerous fossils of Cordaicarpon sp. from the Pennsylvanian of Michigan. Cordaicarpon is a genus of seeds (the circular structures). Cordaitales are a Paleozoic order related to conifers. Specimen is from the Cornell University Paleobotanical Collection (CUPC), Ithaca, New York (#1213.2). Length of rock is approximately 18.5 cm.
Order Voltziales (voltzialean conifers, a Paleozoic to Mesozoic group)
Family Utrechtiaceae
Fossil branches of Ernestiodendron germanica from the Permian of Germany. Ernestiodendron is in the extinct Paleozoic conifer order Voltziales, family Utrechtiaceae. Specimen is from the Cornell University Paleobotanical Collection (CUPC), Ithaca, New York. Length of specimen is approximately 13.5 cm.
Order Pinales (modern conifers)
Family Cupressaceae
Foliage
Fossil leafy branchlets of Cupressinocladus (scale leaves) and the dawn redwood Metasequoia occidentalis (longer leaves) from the Paleocene of Alberta, Canada. The only living species of Metasequoia, M. glyptostroboides, is native to China. Specimen is from the Cornell University Paleobotanical Collection (CUPC), Ithaca, New York (#2091). Length of rock is approximately 10 cm.
Fossil leafy branchlets of the dawn redwood Metasequoia occidentalis from the Paleocene of Alberta, preserved as carbonizations. The only living species of Metasequoia, M. glyptostroboides, is native to China. Specimen is from the Cornell University Paleobotanical Collection (CUPC), Ithaca, New York (#2081). Length of specimen is approximately 16 cm.
Cones
Fossil leafy branches bearing seed cones from the dawn redwood Metasequoia occidentalis from the Eocene of Canada. The only living species of Metasequoia, M. glyptostroboides, is native to China. Specimen is from the Cornell University Paleobotanical Collection (CUPC), Ithaca, New York. Length of specimen is approximately 11.5 cm.