Fossil Othniophyton elongatum
Photo: Florida Museum of Natural History
Paleontologists first found the fossil in 1969 and named it Othniophyton elongatummeaning “alien plant”. At that time, they believed that the fossil belonged to an extinct plant that was most likely related to ginseng.
However, recent analysis results have changed that hypothesis. Fossil expert Steven Manchester, who is in charge of paleobotany at the Florida Museum of Natural History (USA), accidentally saw an unidentified plant specimen while visiting the paleobotanical collection. from the University of California at Berkeley.
The fossils in the collection are well preserved and come from the same area where the specimen was found Othniophyton elongatum Firstly.
Manchester’s research team analyzed the fossils and concluded they all belonged to the same type of tree.
In the process of learning more, they were unable to trace the origin of the above specimens in a database of more than 400 living and extinct families of flowering plants.
Both specimens were unearthed in eastern Utah, near the abandoned town of Rainbow, also known as the “ghost” town.
About 47 million years ago, this place was a thriving lake ecosystem near active volcanoes.
Lake sediments and volcanic ash have slowed decomposition in fish, reptiles, birds and plants. Scientists have found many well-preserved fossils here, including two “alien” specimens.
