4" Davidia Antiqua Fossil Plant Leaf Plant Fort Union Formation Glendive Montana

Step back in time with this exquisite Davidia Antiqua fossil leaf, a rare relic from the early Paleocene Epoch, approximately 66–56 million years ago. This period immediately followed the Cretaceous–Paleogene mass extinction, a cataclysmic event that wiped out non-avian dinosaurs, giant marine reptiles, and many other species, leaving ecological niches open for new life to flourish. During the Paleocene, Earth experienced a warm, ice-free climate, with subtropical and deciduous forests spreading to the polar regions, creating some of the first modern-style rainforests. Flowering plants (angiosperms) proliferated, and many modern plant families, including palms and cacti, began to emerge. The fossilization of plants like Davidia Antiqua provides a rare window into the dense forests and thriving ecosystems of the time. These leaves reflect both the recovery of life after mass extinction and the early evolution of modern flora, coexisting with insects that fed on and pollinated these plants. Ideal for fossil collectors, paleobotany enthusiasts, and educators, this Davidia Antiqua fossil leaf is a tangible piece of prehistoric history, capturing a unique chapter in Earth’s evolutionary story.