This is the “Fossil Friday” post #59.  Expect this to be a somewhat regular feature of the website.  We will post any fossil pictures you send in to esconi.info@gmail.com.  Please include a short description or story.  Check the #FossilFriday Twitter hash tag for contributions from around the world!

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Another Chowder Flatts fossil is our feature for Fossil Friday this week.  This time it’s a seed fern called Neuropteris inflata.  We posted about N. inflata back in Mazon Monday #55.  It’s somewhat problematic in that it looks very similar to Macroneuropteris scheuchzerii, but is probably different.  From “A Comprehensive Guide to the Fossil Flora of Mazon Creek” on page 205, we have…

REMARKS: Neuropteris inflata is uncommon. It appears similar to Macroneuropteris scheuchzerii which produces many polymorphic leaf forms. N. inflata may turn out to be an impar-kind of pinnule. The characteristic “hairs” on M. scheuchzerii are never seen on N. inflata. They have not been reported in other localities where M. scheuchzerii is commonly found. It is considered here as a morphospecies only. Its status as a separate biological species remains problematic.

This specimen was collected back in the 1990’s by ESCONI member Dave Bergmann.