Fossil plant discovery has 'great significance'

"Our survey team accidentally dropped rocks on the surface of the roadside and found traces of small fern feathers," said Zhao Bi, a local paleontologist.

Researchers discovered that the ancient plant fossils were exceptionally well preserved. They were buried in layers more than 200 meters thick, Zhao added.

Researchers have identified at least 10 genera and species in the fossil combination of the plants, including at least three main plant phyla, including club moss, ferns and seed ferns.

Most of these ancient plants are early types that have been lost in the long river of geological history, and their life span can be traced back hundreds of millions of years.