Glossopteris

Glossopteris Temporal range: Cisuralian-Changhsingian PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N [1][2]
Glossopteris sp.
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Order:	†Glossopteridales
Family:	†Glossopteridaceae
Genus:	†Glossopteris Brongniart 1828 ex Brongniart 1831
Species
G. angustifolia G. brasiliensis G. browniana G. communis G. indica G. occidentalis
Fossils of the gymnosperm Glossopteris (dark green) found in all of the southern continents provide strong evidence that the continents were once amalgamated into a supercontinent Gondwana

Glossopteris (etymology: from Ancient Greek γλῶσσα (glôssa, " tongue ") + πτερίς (pterís, " fern ")) is the largest and best-known genus of the extinct Permian order of seed plants known as Glossopteridales (also known as Arberiales, Ottokariales, or Dictyopteridiales). The name Glossopteris refers only to leaves, within the framework of form genera used in paleobotany (for likely reproductive organs, see Glossopteridaceae).

Species of Glossopteris were the dominant trees of the middle to high-latitude lowland vegetation across the supercontinent Gondwana during the Permian Period. Glossopteris fossils were critical in recognizing former connections between the various fragments of Gondwana: South America, Africa, India, Australia, New Zealand, and Antarctica.