Eusphenopteris

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

Eusphenopteris was a seed fern. It was characterized by round-lobed leaflets exhibiting conspicuous stalk-like attachments to the main stem. The lower basal leaflets are usually more lobate and well-developed. The leaflets of Eusphenopteris never have toothed margins.

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 about 7 miles.