Description
You are purchasing the exact specimen shown in the listing – a rare positive and negative plate pair of the fossil seed fern Lonchopteris rugosa, preserved in fine detail from the Carboniferous Coal Measures of Radstock, Somerset, UK.
This specimen was discovered by our team members Alister and Alison on 12 May 2025, and was carefully cleaned, prepped, and treated by Alison. Both halves of the fossil – the impression (positive) and its counterpart (negative) – are included, providing an exceptional and complete view of this ancient plant.
A 1cm scale cube is included in the photo for accurate size reference. Please see all listing photos for detailed views and full measurements.
Specimen Details:
- Scientific Name: Lonchopteris rugosa
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Division: Pteridospermatophyta (Seed Ferns)
- Order: Medullosales
- Family: Lonchopteridaceae
- Geological Period: Carboniferous
- Epoch: Pennsylvanian (Upper Carboniferous)
- Stage: Likely Westphalian B–C
- Formation: Coal Measures Group
- Locality: Radstock, Somerset, UK (Somerset Coalfield)
- Depositional Environment: Tropical, swampy coal-forest ecosystem with low-oxygen conditions ideal for plant preservation
- Biozone Context: Commonly associated with Alethopteris, Neuropteris, and Calamites in equatorial swamp flora
- Morphology Features:
- Elongated lance-shaped (loncholate) pinnules with a central vein and fine lateral venation
- Frond surface may show wrinkled (rugose) texture, giving the species its name
- Preserved as a matched positive-negative slab, capturing the detailed 3D structure of the leaf impressions
- Formal Identification: Lonchopteris rugosa was first described by early European palaeobotanists during the 19th century, and remains a key genus in Carboniferous swamp forest studies
Why This Fossil is Special:
This fossil shows both halves of the original plant impression – positive and negative – making it especially valuable for collectors, educators, and palaeobotanists. It captures a moment in deep time, preserving fine venation and structural detail of a plant that lived over 300 million years ago.
Why Choose Us?
- 100% Genuine Fossil Specimen
- Comes with a Certificate of Authenticity
- Collected and prepared by our own UK field team
- Includes both positive and negative plates
- What you see is exactly what you receive
Ideal for:
- Fossil collectors
- Palaeobotany enthusiasts
- Natural history educators
- Science gifts and museum displays
Note:
Scale cube = 1cm. Please examine all photographs carefully for details and dimensions. This is a unique specimen and will not be repeated.
Thank you for supporting ethical fossil collection and the appreciation of Earth’s prehistoric plant life.
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