Fossil plant (Glossopteris)
Place Collected(Object)
: Oceania, Australia Dimensions:Slab: 47 (L) x 38 (W) cm
Object number: ROMIP58789
DescriptionDuring the late Paleozoic Era (300 to 250 million years ago), India and the southern continents of Antarctica, Africa, Australia and South America were all part of one huge landmass called Gondwana. The forests were characterized by the distinctive plants Glossopteris and Gangamopteris. Subsequently Gondwana broke up and the continents drifted apart. Fossils of these same plants are found on all five continents, contributing to our understanding of the earlier supercontinent.