Metasequoia sp.
Ruby River Formation
Ruby River Basin, Madison Co.
Montana, USA.

Beautiful fossil foliage of Metasequoia sp., an ancient dawn redwood preserved from a prehistoric forest ecosystem. Once widespread across the Northern Hemisphere, Metasequoia was a dominant tree in many Late Mesozoic and Cenozoic landscapes before its range dramatically contracted. Today, its only living representative is the Metasequoia glyptostroboides of central China.
46mm leaf on 103mm slab