This is the “Fossil Friday” post #273.  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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Today, we have a stunning 3D Macroneuropteris scheuchzeri.  This fossil was collected near Terre Haute, Indiana in the spoils of the Chieftain #20 strip mine. Macroneuropteris scheuchzeri is a seed fern (Pteridospermatophyta), which is a group of plants that went extinct during the late Cretaceous Period.  They first show up in the fossil record during the late Devonian.  Specimens are large and tongue shaped.  The namesake for M. scheuchzeri is Johann Jakob Scheuchzer, a botanist in the 1700’s.   For more information, see Mazon Monday #39.