Alloiopteris coralloides

Rock Type: Gray shale
Formation: Kanawha
Interval: Coalburg seam
Age: Middle Pennsylvanian Period, approx. 307 million years.

Alloiopteris coralloides is a form-species of herbaceous fern that resembles Pecopteris, except that it's leaflets are lobe-shaped rather than being straight and smooth. Herbaceous ferns were less abundant during the Pennsylvanian Period than the now-extinct seed ferns.

Location: Nicholas County, West Virginia; Ramp Run Surface Mine #1, located about 12 miles north of Summersville, West Virginia. Turn west off route 19 north of Summersville onto Spruce Run Road. Follow it out the ridge about 7 miles. Turn right at Terry Eagle Coal Company sign.