glossopterans

Glossopterids were a major group of extinct seed-bearing plants that flourished during the Permian and Triassic periods. The genus Glossopteris, from which the group derives its name, is the most well-known and abundant member. These plants were characterized by their distinctive tongue-shaped leaves, which are typically found as fossils in sediments across Gondwana. The leaves often had a reticulate venation pattern, meaning the veins formed a net-like structure.

Fossilized remains of glossopterids, including leaves, wood, and seeds, are a key piece of evidence supporting the theory of continental drift. Their widespread distribution across South America, Africa, India, Australia, and Antarctica, which were once part of the supercontinent Gondwana, indicates that these landmasses were connected during the time glossopterids were alive. The exact reproductive structures of glossopterids were a subject of debate for many years, but research has revealed they produced seeds borne on modified shoots or stalks. They are thought to have been trees or shrubs and played a significant role in the terrestrial ecosystems of the Southern Hemisphere during the late Paleozoic and early Mesozoic eras, eventually becoming extinct by the end of the Triassic.