Metzgeriothallus

Metzgeriothallus
Temporal range: Givetian–Lower Mississippian
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Marchantiophyta
Class: Jungermanniopsida
Order: Metzgeriales
Genus: †Metzgeriothallus
Walton, 1928
Species
  • M. metzgerioides Walton, 1928 (type)
  • M. sharona VanAller Hernick et al., 2008

Metzgeriothallus sharona is the oldest known liverwort fossil, dating to the Middle Devonian.[1] It is a simple, thalloid organism. M. metzgerioides is known from more fragmentary material dating to the Carboniferous of Scotland.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b Hernick, L.; Landing, E.; Bartowski, K. (2008). "Earth's oldest liverworts—Metzgeriothallus sharonae sp. Nov. From the Middle Devonian (Givetian) of eastern New York, USA". Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology 148: 154. doi:10.1016/j.revpalbo.2007.09.002.  edit