Pagiophyllum Fossil Plant Jurassic Lyme Regis Dorset UK Charmouth Mudstone Formation Lower Jurassic Sinemurian–Pliensbachian Fossil Conifer

Description

Genuine Pagiophyllum Fossil Plant from the Jurassic Coast

This authentic fossil plant identified as Pagiophyllum sp. originates from the famous Charmouth Mudstone Formation at Lyme Regis, Dorset, United Kingdom. Preserved within Lower Jurassic sediments dating to the Sinemurian–Pliensbachian stages, approximately 199–183 million years ago, this fossil represents part of the vegetation that once grew along the margins of Jurassic coastal environments.

The specimen is a carefully chosen example of Jurassic fossil plant material and shows preserved impressions of the ancient foliage. The photographs show the exact fossil you will receive. Please refer to the images for the full sizing and proportions of the specimen. This genuine fossil includes a Certificate of Authenticity lifetime guarantee generic card confirming the authenticity of the piece.

About Pagiophyllum – An Early Jurassic Conifer

Pagiophyllum is a form genus used to describe fossilised conifer foliage commonly found in Mesozoic deposits. These fossil leaves are associated with extinct coniferous trees that thrived during the Jurassic period and are believed to be related to early members of conifer families that dominated terrestrial ecosystems at the time.

The leaves of Pagiophyllum are typically small, narrow, and scale-like, arranged in spirals around slender stems. This foliage structure is characteristic of many early conifers that evolved to withstand varied climatic conditions. Fossils of Pagiophyllum are frequently preserved as impressions or compressions in fine-grained sedimentary rocks, providing valuable insight into the vegetation that surrounded Jurassic coastal environments.

During the Early Jurassic, conifers were among the dominant land plants. They formed forests and woodland ecosystems that supported diverse insect life and early terrestrial vertebrates while contributing organic material to nearby marine environments.

Morphology and Fossil Preservation

Fossil specimens of Pagiophyllum typically display delicate leaf impressions with narrow, elongated foliage that tapers toward the tip. The leaves are often arranged helically around the stem, creating a textured pattern that is clearly visible in well-preserved fossils.

These fossil plants are commonly preserved as carbonaceous compressions or impressions within mudstone and shale. During fossilisation, plant material was buried rapidly by fine sediment, preventing decomposition and allowing the outline of the foliage to be preserved.

Specimens such as this provide a rare glimpse into the plant communities that existed along Jurassic shorelines and river systems, helping palaeobotanists reconstruct the vegetation and climate of the time.

Geological Setting – Charmouth Mudstone Formation

The Charmouth Mudstone Formation is one of the most significant fossil-bearing geological formations in the United Kingdom. Deposited during the Early Jurassic in a shallow marine basin, these sediments consist mainly of grey mudstones and shales formed in a calm offshore environment.

Although the formation is best known for its marine fossils such as ammonites, belemnites, fish, and marine reptiles, occasional terrestrial plant material is also preserved. These plant fossils likely originated from nearby coastal forests and river systems, where vegetation was transported into the marine basin by storms or river discharge before becoming buried in the sediment.

The fossil-rich cliffs of Lyme Regis are part of the UNESCO World Heritage Jurassic Coast and have produced some of the most important palaeontological discoveries in Britain.

Jurassic Ecosystem and Environment

During the Sinemurian–Pliensbachian interval, southern Britain lay within a warm temperate climate with extensive coastal forests and low-lying floodplains. Conifers such as those represented by Pagiophyllum would have formed a major component of these terrestrial ecosystems.

Plant material occasionally washed into the surrounding sea, where it settled on the seabed alongside marine organisms. This mixture of marine and terrestrial fossils provides important evidence of the interaction between land environments and the Jurassic seas.

Fossil plants from Lyme Regis are particularly interesting because they help reconstruct the landscape that existed beyond the shoreline of the Jurassic ocean.

Authenticity and Collectability

• Genuine fossil plant identified as Pagiophyllum sp.

• Charmouth Mudstone Formation, Lower Jurassic

• Sinemurian–Pliensbachian stages (approximately 199–183 million years old)

• Collected from Lyme Regis, Dorset, United Kingdom

• The exact fossil shown in the photographs is the specimen you will receive

• Includes a Certificate of Authenticity lifetime guarantee generic card

Jurassic plant fossils from the famous Dorset coastline are sought after by collectors due to their rarity and connection to one of the world’s most important fossil localities. This Pagiophyllum fossil represents a beautiful example of ancient Jurassic vegetation and offers a fascinating glimpse into the prehistoric landscapes that existed alongside the Jurassic seas of southern England.