Extremely Rare Jurassic Araucaria moreauniana Flower Fossil

This is an extremely rare Araucaria fossil flower. There have been only a few of these found from this famous German locality.

Commonly called the Northfolk Island Pine, Araucaria was a pyramidal tree possibly growing 30-40 meters tall, 1.5 meters in girth with a lifespan possibly exceeding 1000 years Extant versions have branches in horizontal whorls of five, in opposing pairs. Some consider it the most beautiful to have ever existed on earth.

The middle picture above shows a branch of the extant Araucaria columnaris.