What is "glossopteris"

Glossopteris ( , meaning "tongue", because the leaves were tongue-shaped) is the largest and best-known genus of the extinct order of seed ferns known as Glossopteridales (also known as Arberiales or Ottokariales). The genus Glossopteris refers only to leaves, within a framework of form genera used in paleobotany. For likely reproductive organs see Glossopteridaceae, and these are important because they indicate biological identity of these plants that were critical for recognizing former connections between the varied fragments of Gondwana: South America, Africa, India, Australia, New Zealand, and Antarctica.