Gossopteris

Glossopteris is an extinct genus of seed ferns that was widespread during the Permian and Triassic periods. Its distinctive, broad, tongue-shaped leaves are the most common plant fossils found from the Southern Hemisphere during this era. The name "Glossopteris" comes from the Greek word "glossopteris," meaning "tongue-shaped," referring to the shape of its leaves.

These plants are significant because their fossilized remains have been found across continents that are now widely separated, including South America, Africa, India, Australia, and Antarctica. The distribution of Glossopteris fossils was a key piece of evidence used by Alfred Wegener in developing his theory of continental drift and the existence of the supercontinent Pangaea. It was believed that these plants could not have crossed vast oceans, suggesting that the landmasses were once connected.

Glossopteris belonged to a group of plants known as pteridosperms, or seed ferns. Unlike true ferns, they reproduced by seeds rather than spores. Fossil evidence indicates that Glossopteris plants grew in diverse environments, from temperate to cooler regions, and were likely dominant components of many Permian and Triassic ecosystems. The exact appearance of the Glossopteris plant, including its trunk and reproductive structures, is still a subject of ongoing research, with various reconstructions proposed based on limited fossil evidence.