481 / Paleozoic
Peltaspermum
Peltaspermum martinsii
Shield-shaped reproductive discs record an innovation among drought-tolerant seed ferns.
View original image · 1600 × 1067- Time range
- About 260–252 million years ago
- Final stage
- End of the Permian
- Geographic range
- Seasonally dry woodland · Eurasia
01 / DEFINITION & ECOLOGY
What was Peltaspermum?
Peltaspermum (Peltaspermum martinsii) was an extinct organism known from About 260–252 million years ago, with a range in Seasonally dry woodland · Eurasia.
Life and ecology
Fern-like fronds captured light while seeds developed beneath umbrella-shaped structures.
02 / DISAPPEARANCE
Why did Peltaspermum disappear?
The end-Permian crisis and Triassic vegetation turnover are the likely setting of its disappearance; a specific cause for the species is not established.
03 / EVIDENCE
How do scientists know about Peltaspermum?
Leaves, pollen organs and seed discs occur together, although whole-plant links remain comparative.
04 / SOURCES & FURTHER READING
Check the source record
Use the scientific name to compare taxonomy, occurrence records and the fossil record. Database coverage and classifications may differ.
05 / REVISION HISTORY
How has this record changed?
- Rewrote an extinction cause that presented environmental or faunal turnover as established; it is now given as context the record does not prove.
- Verified authoritative entity sources and added three responsive reconstruction sizes.
- Initial bilingual species record published.
06 / CORRECTIONS & ADDITIONS