1.1" Detailed Persea Coriacea Fossil Plant Leaf Eocene Age Green River FM Utah

Persea coriacea Leaf 

This beautifully preserved Persea coriacea fossil leaf originates from the early Middle Eocene shales of the Green River Formation, spanning Utah, Colorado, and Wyoming. Dating to approximately 53–48 million years ago, the specimen exhibits well-defined venation and smooth leaf margins, characteristic of laurel-type foliage that thrived in warm, subtropical climates.

Although the Green River Formation is world-famous for its exceptionally detailed fish fossils, it also preserves a remarkably diverse fossil assemblage that includes plants, invertebrates, reptiles, mammals, and even Eocene stromatolites. Plant fossils are abundant within these finely laminated lake deposits, reflecting the dense and varied vegetation that surrounded expansive freshwater lakes during the Paleogene.

Leaves attributed to Persea indicate that laurel-family trees were an important element of Eocene forests in western North America. These plants likely formed part of the canopy and mid-level forest structure along lake margins. On rare occasions, plant fossils from this formation are found with faint insect impressions, though insects remain comparatively uncommon in Green River strata.

This Persea coriacea fossil contributes valuable information to our understanding of the Eocene climate, forest composition, and plant diversity. Ideal for collectors, educators, and museum exhibits, it offers a tangible connection to the lush, thriving ecosystems that flourished nearly 50 million years ago.