Leaf of the fossil plant Glossopteris,a typical genus of the Permian & Triassic period,270-190 million years ago. The plant was a tree form reaching 6 metres (20ft) high with a stem of 40cm (16 inches) in diameter. The leaves are the most common part to have survived in fossil form. They are elongated,narrow & tapering at both ends. The distribution of Glossopteris today includes India,Australia,South Africa,South America & Antarctica. This land surface corresponds to the single southern supercontinent Gondwanaland,where,during the late Paleozoic,Glosspopteris,was very common |