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Pertica quadrifaria

Maine State Fossil

Pertica quadrifaria Maine state fossil. Photo by Falconaumanni / Wikipedia (use permitted with attribution/share alike).

Official State Fossil of Maine

A prehistoric plant (Pertica quadrifaria) was designated as the official state fossil of Maine in 1985. All State Fossils

A primitive fern-like plant that lived during the Devonian Period (about 400 million years ago), Pertica quadrifaria was one of the largest plants of its time, growing to about 6 feet in height.

First discovered in Maine and found in only three other locations in the world, this plant is considered a scientifically important find because it represents an important step in the evolution of land plants.