Mazon Creek Fertile Fern

[connorp]

For the most part, fertile ferns are rare in the Mazon Creek flora. The only exception being Diplazites, of which ~1/2 of all specimens are fertile. This is my first non-Diplazites fertile fern. I really like the interplay between the white mineral deposits, the brown matrix, and the scattered pyrite crystals - a very artistic specimen I think. My best guess is that this is Cyathocarpus hemitelioides, but I am not positive.

 

 

Close up of a fertile pinnule

 

Close up of sterile pinnules at the base