OSMUNDACEAE. Permian Tree Fern in the Glacial Deposits of the Opole Region: An Anatomical Study and Matrix Silicification Processes

This paper documents the discovery and anatomical analysis of a Permian tree fern from the Osmundaceae family (likely genus Palaeosmunda), found in the glacial erratic deposits of the Opole region, Poland. The specimen, preserved within a highly jaspirized matrix, underwent micromorphological examination focusing on the geometry of vascular bundles in the leaf bases (stipes). The analysis revealed characteristic xylem structures in "C-shape" (transverse section) and "U-shape" (longitudinal section), enclosed by distinct sclerotic rings. The exceptional state of tissue preservation is attributed to selective matrix agatization and provides evidence for the survival of Permian cellular structures under extreme glacial transport conditions.