Description
You are purchasing the exact fossil specimen shown in the listing photographs — a well-preserved example of the extinct seed fern Alethopteris urophylla, collected from the historic Carboniferous Coal Measures at Radstock, Somerset, UK.
This specimen was discovered on 12 May 2025 by our experienced field team, Alister and Alison, and has been expertly cleaned, prepped, and treated by Alison to ensure the finest preservation and clarity of botanical detail.
A 1cm scale cube is included in the photographs for accurate sizing. Please review all images for full visual details and condition.
Specimen Details:
- Scientific Name: Alethopteris urophylla
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Division: Pteridospermatophyta (Seed Ferns)
- Order: Medullosales
- Family: Alethopteridaceae
- Geological Period: Carboniferous
- Epoch: Pennsylvanian (Upper Carboniferous)
- Stage: Likely Westphalian B–C
- Formation: Coal Measures Group
- Locality: Radstock, Somerset, UK
- Depositional Environment: Dense, humid equatorial swamp forests with low-oxygen, organic-rich deltaic systems conducive to fossilisation
- Biozone Association: Common within assemblages including Neuropteris, Pecopteris, and Calamites in Westphalian floras
- Morphology Features:
- Broad, lance-shaped pinnules with pronounced central midrib
- Finely parallel lateral venation
- Pinnule apex often sharply pointed or elongated (urophyllous)
- Fronds typically attached to a robust rachis with slightly overlapping arrangement
- Formal Description: Alethopteris urophylla was classified as part of the rich Carboniferous fern-like seed plant record by 19th-century European paleobotanists studying the floras of the Coal Measures
About Alethopteris urophylla:
A. urophylla was part of the towering understorey vegetation that flourished in prehistoric tropical swamps over 300 million years ago. It belonged to a now-extinct group of seed-bearing ferns that helped shape the organic layers which later formed Britain’s coal seams. Their large, strikingly veined fronds make them a collector’s favourite and a cornerstone of any palaeobotanical display.
Why Choose Us?
- 100% Genuine Fossil Specimen
- Includes a Certificate of Authenticity
- You receive the exact item shown in photos
- Discovered, cleaned, and prepared by our trusted in-house team
- Ethically and legally sourced from a verified UK location
Perfect for:
- Fossil and fern collectors
- Educational and teaching collections
- Natural history enthusiasts
- Unique science gifts
- Museum and academic displays
Note:
Scale cube = 1cm. Please refer to all photos for condition and full sizing details.
Thank you for supporting ethical fossil discovery and the preservation of our planet’s deep-time botanical heritage.
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.