420 / Mesozoic
Pleuromeia
Pleuromeia sternbergii
Columnar lycophytes formed pioneer stands after the end-Permian catastrophe.
View original image · 1600 × 1067- Time range
- About 250–240 million years ago
- Final stage
- Early Triassic
- Geographic range
- Arid floodplains · Europe and Asia
01 / DEFINITION & ECOLOGY
What was Pleuromeia?
Pleuromeia (Pleuromeia sternbergii) was an extinct organism known from About 250–240 million years ago, with a range in Arid floodplains · Europe and Asia.
Life and ecology
A single fleshy stem, terminal leaves and underground organs tolerated seasonal drought and saline ground.
02 / DISAPPEARANCE
Why did Pleuromeia disappear?
As Triassic vegetation recovered, more diverse plant communities spread; this is likely context for the decline of these pioneers, but a specific cause is not established.
03 / EVIDENCE
How do scientists know about Pleuromeia?
Stems, leaves, cones and rooting organs preserve its life cycle.
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