horsetail seed pods from the sahara

The vast expanse of the Moroccan Sahara Desert holds secrets from the distant past. Among these ancient relics are the fossilized seed pods of horsetail plants. These delicate structures, preserved in the arid sands, offer a glimpse into a lush and vibrant ecosystem that once thrived in this region. The horsetail plants, with their distinctive jointed stems and spore-bearing cones, were a common sight during the Eocene epoch, a time of warm, tropical climates. The fossilized seed pods, often found in a remarkable state of preservation, provide valuable information about the evolution and diversity of these ancient plants.