Paleopanax facts for kids

Paleopanax was an extinct plant, a type of flowering plant that belonged to the Ginseng family. Only one species, Paleopanax oregonensis, is known. Scientists found its fossil fruits in rocks in north-central Oregon. These fossils are from the Eocene epoch, a very long time ago.

Discovering Paleopanax

Scientists found Paleopanax oregonensis in just one place. This spot is called the Clarno Nut Beds, located in the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument in Oregon. It's about 3 kilometers (2 miles) east of a small community named Clarno, Oregon.

These fossil beds are very old, dating back about 45 to 43 million years ago. This time period is known as the middle Eocene epoch. Scientists figured out the age by studying the rocks using special dating methods. The rocks where the fossils were found are made of sand, silt, and pebbles. They formed in an ancient lake or from old floods and volcanic mudflows.

Studying the Fossils

The first fossils of Paleopanax were studied by a scientist named Steven R. Manchester. He is a paleobotanist, which means he studies ancient plants. He worked at the University of Florida.

The fossils were part of a huge collection. About 20,000 specimens were gathered between 1942 and 1989. Many people helped collect them, including high school students! These important fossils are now kept at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry in Portland, Oregon.

Steven Manchester officially described Paleopanax oregonensis in 1994. He published his findings in a science journal. The name Paleopanax comes from two words. "Paleo" is Greek for "old," and "Panax" is the name for ginseng. So, it means "old ginseng." The second part of the name, oregonensis, simply means "from Oregon," where the fossils were found.

Paleopanax and another fossil plant called Dendropanax are the oldest known relatives of the modern Ginseng family.

What the Fruit Looked Like

The fruits of Paleopanax oregonensis were shaped like a wide oval. They were about 4.5 to 5.6 millimeters (0.18 to 0.22 inches) long. They were also about 5.4 to 6.6 centimeters (2.1 to 2.6 inches) wide.

Each fruit had two main parts, called carpels. These carpels had two or three curved lines running along them. The fruit also had a short stem, called a pedicel, which was no longer than 2 millimeters (0.08 inches).

At the top of the fruit, there were two curved parts called styles. These styles stood up straight and were about 2.0 to 3.0 millimeters (0.08 to 0.12 inches) long.

The overall shape of the fruit is very similar to a living plant called Pseudopanax davidii. However, there's a key difference: Pseudopanax davidii has one style that splits into two, while Paleopanax oregonensis had two separate styles.