Rare Eocene Araliaceae Family Leaf Fossil from Green River Formation

Description: The Green River Formation deposits of Wyoming, Colorado, and Utah are best known for their immaculately-preserved fish, but other examples are known as well, as this specimen attests. This is an example of a leaf from a member of the Araliaceae, a rarely seen family in the Green River Formation. The family today is comprised of trees, shrubs, and vines that grow in a tropical environment. The rich brown color is a fine contrast to the light shale matrix, with the leaf well centered on the plate.