Permian plants of Russia

[Krauklis]

The fossils of these two ginkgophyte species come from the Koshelyovskaya Formation, located near Mazuyevka, Perm Krai. The sediments in the area are 276 million years old, which corresponds to the middle part of the Kungurian age of the Permian period. 

 

 

Psygmophyllum expansum

 

Psygmophyllum intermedium

Edited August 25 by Krauklis

[DPS Ammonite]

Welcome to the Forum from Arizona.

 

Your fossils and drawings are interesting.

 

I noticed on your profile you mention “conlanging” as an interest which I had to look up the meaning: constructed languages. Which constructed language(s) do you know?

[Krauklis]

2 minutes ago, DPS Ammonite said:

Welcome to the Forum from Arizona.

 

Your fossils and drawings are interesting.

 

I noticed on your profile you mention “conlanging” as an interest which I had to look up the meaning: constructed languages. Which constructed language(s) do you know?

I don't know any, aside from the basics of the oldest conlang I've been working on. It's mostly based on Old Norse and it's descendants. I'm more into the creation aspect than learning, although it did help me with some understanding of the natural North Germanic languages. 

[Fossildude19]

Great fossils, and drawings!

[minnbuckeye]

5 hours ago, DPS Ammonite said:

conlanging

Interesting topic. wonderful fossil/ artistic work.

[Krauklis]

A branch of Vojnovskya sp. The name of the leaf form genus is Rufloria. The fossils come from the same formation near Mazuyevka.

 

 

 

 

P.S. I decided to change the name of the topic, so I can put all of my drawings of Permian plants here.

 

[Krauklis]

Paleoecology of Perm Krai during the Kungurian age

 

The fossils of Mazuyevka and many other sites come from the middle part of the Kungurian stage of the Permian period (276.0 MYA). In Russian stratigraphy, it's the Koshelyovskaya Formation (Иренский горизонт, кошелевская свита). 

 

In the past, the place was a sea coast situated at the very edge of the landmass raised by the Uralian Orogeny, west to the East European plain, which back then was covered by shallow seawaters. The ecosystem of the area was similar to the modern day mangrove forests, with prehistoric horsetails, lycopods and gymnosperms populating the coast and the adjacent shallow waters. At some sites, right next to the fossils of ancient plants, ripple marks can be found, while in other places only the remains of marine organisms are present in the lower layers, gradually getting replaced in the new layers by plant fossils.

 

Ripple marks from Mazuyevka.

 

A similar site, near Chekarda, contains fossils of many of the same Permian plant species, but with much better preservation. However, the place is more famous for it's well-preserved insect remains.

 

Another interesting place is located near the settlement Alebastrovo. It does contain some of the usual plant remains, although the flora-containing deposits are not as rich. However, this is compensated by the presence of the stromatolites Alebastrophyton sylvensis.

 

Sylva reefs - this term refers to the white mountains of the Sylva river valley, formed by accumulation of marine detritus and evaporation of the sea. In some areas, most of the mountains are made of different types of gypsum and don't contain fossils. But in other parts of the valley, brachiopod, bryozoan, coral and mollusc remains can be found.

 

Yermak Stone. The river Sylva can be seen on the left.

 

Ledyanaya Mountain, famous for the Kungur Ice Cave.

 

 

My reconstruction of what Perm Krai might've looked like during the Early Permian.

 

This version shows some of the fossil sites (black) and some settlements (red).

 

 

Edited August 26 by Krauklis

[Ludwigia]

I'm really enjoying your topics. It's nice to have you aboard!

[Krauklis]

Continuing the topic of Permian ginkgophytes, but leaving Perm Krai. This is Rhipidopsis ginkgoides, a plant species found in the Pechora coal basin.

 

 

 

Fossils from the Pechora coal basin. Middle Permian and early late Permian. The scale is 1 cm.

From Herbarium Permicum by S.V. Naugolnykh.

Edited August 26 by Krauklis

[Krauklis]

Psygmophyllum nesterenkoi - another ginkgophyte species from the Pechora coal basin.

 

 

 

A fossilized leaf from the Khey-Yaga river, Pechora coal basin. Middle Permian.

From Herbarium Permicum by S.V. Naugolnykh

 

Only one more species of Psygmophyllum to go.

Edited August 26 by Krauklis

[Krauklis]

The last species of the genus: Psygmophyllum cuneifolium.

 

 

 

 

The first fossil is from Chekarda, while the second one is from Mazuyevka. Both specimens come from the Koshelyovskaya formation, dated to the middle of the Kungurian age. The images are from Flora Permica, by S.V. Naugolnykh.

 

Edited August 26 by Krauklis

[Krauklis]

Five more species of Permian ginkgophytes - probably the last ones.

 

1. Sphenobaiera kungurica

 

Mazuyevka, Koshelyovskaya Formation, Irenian (Middle Kungurian).

 

 

2. Flabellofolium lamellatus

 

Beryozovka. By S.V. Naugolnykh (Flora Permica)

 

 

3. Kerpia macroloba

 

From Flora Permica by S.V. Naugolnykh. Rakhmangulovo, Sverdlovsk Oblast (Kungurian).

 

 

4. Biarmobaiera uralensis

 

From Flora Permica by S.V. Naugolnykh. From various locations in Perm Krai.

 

 

5. Bardia mauerii

 

From Flora Permica by S.V. Naugolnykh. Krutaya Katushka-2, Perm Krai (Kungurian)

Edited August 27 by Krauklis

[Wrangellian]

I like your reconstructions.

Most of your fossils don't have much in the way of branches. What do you base the branches on, do you have other fossils not shown here? Modern Ginkgo for the ginkgophytes? Educated guessing?

[Bringing Fossils to Life]

I'm amazed at these plants, which I can't seem to draw. I also enjoy your maps and very fossil-based reconstructions; keep going!

[trilobites_are_awesome]

Amazing! Some of the best I've ever seen!

[Plantguy]

Fantastic fossils and drawings! Thanks for sharing with us! 

 

Regards, Chris 

[Krauklis]

On 9/1/2024 at 9:32 AM, Wrangellian said:

I like your reconstructions.

Most of your fossils don't have much in the way of branches. What do you base the branches on, do you have other fossils not shown here? Modern Ginkgo for the ginkgophytes? Educated guessing?

I mostly base my reconstructions on modern Ginkgo + some guessing. I wanted to bring these plants to life, but there isn't much left of them, aside from leaves.