Virtual Collection: Pteridosperms (seed ferns)

This virtual collection was last curated by Elizabeth Hermsen and Jonathan Hendricks on August 15, 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 Medullosales

Seed fern: Neuropteris sp. (PRI 49832) by Digital Atlas of Ancient Life on Sketchfab

Isolated fossil pinnule (leaf-like segment) from a compound leaf of the seed fern Neuropteris sp. (pteridosperm; probably group Medullosales) from the Pennsylvanian of Mazon Creek, Illinois (PRI 49832). Specimen is on display at the Museum of the Earth, Ithaca, New York. Length of specimen is approximately 13.5 cm.

Order Corystospermales

Seed fern: Dicroidium sp. (Cornell Univ.) by Digital Atlas of Ancient Life on Sketchfab

Leaf of the fossil seed fern (pteridosperm) Dicroidium from the Triassic of Argentina. Dicrodium is a foliage type assigned to the Mesozoic seed fern order Corystospermales. Specimen is from the Cornell University Paleobotanical Collection (CUPC), Ithaca, New York (#2012). Length of rock is approximately 14 cm.

Order Lyginopteridales

Seed fern: Eusphenopteris sp. (Cornell Univ.) by Digital Atlas of Ancient Life on Sketchfab

Fossil portion of a frond of the seed fern Eusphenopteris sp. (pteridosperm; Lyginopteridales) from the Carboniferous of France. Specimen is from the Cornell University Paleobotanical Collection (CUPC), Ithaca, New York. Length of specimen is approximately 8 cm.

Order Glossopteridales

Pteridosperm: Glossopteris sp. (PRI 49674) by Digital Atlas of Ancient Life on Sketchfab

Fossil leaves of the pteridosperm Glossopteris sp. from the Permian Polestar Formation of the Ellsworth Mountains of Antarctica (PRI 49674). Specimen is on display at the Museum of the Earth, Ithaca, New York. Length of specimen is approximately 13 cm.

Unassigned pteridosperms

Pteridosperm: Eremopteris zamioides (PRI 49910) by Digital Atlas of Ancient Life on Sketchfab

Fossil frond of the seed fern (pteridosperm; not assigned to order) Eremopteris zamioides from Pennsylvanian Llewellyn Formation of Sullivan County, Pennsylvania. Specimen is on display at the Museum of the Earth, Ithaca, New York. Length of specimen is approximately 11 cm.

Seed fern leaf (Cornell University) by Digital Atlas of Ancient Life on Sketchfab

Fossil seed fern leaf; locality information unknown. Specimen is from the Cornell University Paleobotanical Collection (CUPC), Ithaca, New York (#610). Length of specimen is approximately 15 cm.