424 / Mesozoic
Podozamites
Podozamites lanceolatus
Orderly lance-shaped leaves lined stems of a widespread but enigmatic plant.
View original image · 1600 × 1067- Time range
- About 200–120 million years ago
- Final stage
- Early Cretaceous
- Geographic range
- Temperate forest understory · Eurasia
01 / DEFINITION & ECOLOGY
What was Podozamites?
Podozamites (Podozamites lanceolatus) was an extinct organism known from About 200–120 million years ago, with a range in Temperate forest understory · Eurasia.
Life and ecology
It was probably an extinct gymnosperm shrub or small tree near humid lakes and rivers.
02 / DISAPPEARANCE
Why did Podozamites disappear?
The expansion of flowering plants and gymnosperm turnover are possible context for the disappearance of this leaf form; a specific cause is not established.
03 / EVIDENCE
How do scientists know about Podozamites?
Leafy shoots, cuticles and rare reproductive organs leave its exact affinity debated.
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