Fossil Plant Stems Gosslingia sp. | Devonian Lower Old Red Sandstone Breconshire UK | Genuine Specimen with COA

Description

Discover a genuine glimpse into the earliest terrestrial ecosystems with this fossilised stem specimen of Gosslingia sp., an extinct genus of early vascular plants from the Lower Devonian. Sourced from the Lower Old Red Sandstone of Glyn Tarell, Breconshire, Wales, UK, this specimen captures the emergence of plant life on land during a critical phase of Earth’s biological evolution.

Fossil Type: Vascular Plant Stem

Genus: Gosslingia sp.

Geological Period: Devonian (~419 to 359 million years ago)

Geological Subdivision: Lower Devonian

Formation: Lower Old Red Sandstone

Location: Glyn Tarell, Breconshire, Wales, UK

Scale Rule: Squares/Cube = 1cm (See photo for accurate sizing)

Specimen: The exact specimen photographed is the one you will receive

Authenticity: All of our fossils are 100% genuine specimens and come with a Certificate of Authenticity

Geological and Paleobotanical Context

Gosslingia is an extinct genus of primitive vascular plants that thrived in fluvial and floodplain settings during the Devonian period. These plants lacked true leaves or roots, consisting mostly of naked stems (axes) with dichotomous branching patterns. Fossils such as this one mark a major evolutionary milestone—plant colonisation of terrestrial environments.

• Kingdom: Plantae
• Division: Tracheophyta (vascular plants)
• Genus: Gosslingia
• Depositional Environment: Low-energy riverine and floodplain settings within the Old Red Sandstone continent (Laurussia); conditions allowed for the preservation of plant fragments in fine-grained sediments
• Morphological Features: Preserved axial stem fragments with dichotomous or irregular branching; typically compressed into fine-grained sandstone or siltstone matrix; lacking leaves but may show traces of sporangia-bearing tips
• Notable: Fossils of Gosslingia help document the early evolution of land plants and the structure of pioneering Devonian ecosystems
• Geological Stage: Pragian to Emsian stages (Lower Devonian), though specific stratigraphic placement in the Lower ORS of Glyn Tarell may vary
• Biozone: Not assigned to a specific biozone, but often found in association with other Lower Devonian flora including Cooksonia and Rhynia

Why This Fossil is Special

Fossils of Gosslingia are significant due to their role in recording the early development of vascular plants and the greening of Earth’s terrestrial surface. Specimens from the Welsh Borderlands are particularly important in global paleobotanical research and are seldom available on the collector market.

Why Buy From Us?

• 100% genuine fossil with Certificate of Authenticity
• Exact specimen in the photo is the one you will receive
• Ethically collected from legally accessible UK localities
• Ideal for paleobotanical collectors, educational institutions, and anyone fascinated by the history of life on land

Own a genuine piece of Earth’s earliest terrestrial flora with this authentic Gosslingia fossil stem from the Lower Devonian Old Red Sandstone of Glyn Tarell, Breconshire—a rare botanical relic from over 400 million years ago.