1.5" Detailed Leguminosites Lesquereuxiana Fossil Plant Leaf Eocene Green River FM Utah

Leguminosites lesquereuxiana Fossil Leaf – Eocene Legume-Type Foliage from the Green River Formation

This distinctive Leguminosites lesquereuxiana fossil leaf comes from the early Middle Eocene deposits of the Green River Formation, spanning present-day Utah, Colorado, and Wyoming. Approximately 53–48 million years old, the specimen is preserved in finely laminated lake shales that capture detailed venation and subtle leaf structure, reflecting the calm depositional conditions of ancient freshwater basins.

The Green River Formation is globally renowned for its extraordinary fossil preservation. While fossil fish are its most celebrated feature, the formation also contains an extensive record of plants, invertebrates, reptiles, mammals, and even Eocene stromatolites. Leaves attributed to Leguminosae are relatively common in these deposits, suggesting that legume-related plants formed an important component of the vegetation that thrived along the margins of vast Eocene lakes.

In rare cases, plant specimens from this formation may show faint insect associations, offering glimpses into Paleogene ecological relationships. However, insect fossils remain comparatively uncommon within Green River strata, making any such occurrences particularly notable.

Fossils of Leguminosites lesquereuxiana provide valuable insight into the Eocene climate, forest composition, and plant diversity in western North America. Suitable for collectors, educators, and museum displays, this fossil leaf represents a tangible link to the warm, dynamic ecosystems that flourished nearly 50 million years ago.