Location: Stanger Formation, Franklin County, Ottawa, Kansas

Weight: 2 Pounds 3.4 Ounces 

Dimensions: 5.7 Inches Long, 5.2 Inches Wide, 2.3 Inches Thick (Matrix)

The item pictured is the one you will receive. 

Carboniferous Age 359-299 Million Years old.

Cyclopteris

Cyclopteris is a genus of extinct seed ferns that lived during the Carboniferous period, approximately 359 to 299 million years ago. These plants were characterized by their large, compound leaves that were divided into numerous leaflets. The leaflets were arranged in a circular or fan-like pattern, giving the plant its name, which means "circle fern". Cyclopteris fossils have been found in many parts of the world, including Europe, North America, and Asia. They are often preserved as impressions in shale or sandstone, and occasionally as petrified wood. The fossils provide important information about the evolution of ferns and the vegetation of the Carboniferous period.

One of the most notable features of Cyclopteris is its reproductive structure. The plants produced seeds that were enclosed in a cup-like structure called a cupule. The cupules were arranged in clusters on the underside of the leaves, and each contained several seeds. This type of reproductive structure is unique among ferns and is more similar to that of modern-day gymnosperms.  Cyclopteris was an important component of the Carboniferous flora, which was dominated by ferns and other spore-bearing plants. These plants formed vast forests that eventually gave rise to the coal deposits that are mined today. Cyclopteris likely played an important role in these ecosystems as a food source for herbivorous animals.

In conclusion, Cyclopteris is an extinct genus of seed ferns that lived during the Carboniferous period. These plants were characterized by their large, circular leaves with fan-like arrangements of leaflets and unique cupule reproductive structures. Their fossils provide valuable insights into the evolution of ferns and the vegetation of the Carboniferous period.