An Introduction To Paleobotany

The preparation of this book was motivated by a longfelt need for a concise yet fairly comprehensive textbook of paleobotany for use in American colleges and universities. Although separate courses in paleobotany are not offered in many institutions, fossil plants are frequently treated in regular courses in botany and paleontology. In these courses both student and instructor are often compelled to resort to widely scattered publications, which are not always conveniently available. Lack of ready access to sources of information has retarded instruction in paleobotany and has lessened the number of students specializing in this field. Another effect no less serious has been the frequent lack of appreciation by botanists and paleontologists of the importance of fossil plants in biological and geological science.

This 1993 textbook describes and explains the origin and evolution of plants as revealed by the fossil record.

Often regarded as the 'Cinderella' of palaeontological studies, palaeobotany has a history that contains some fascinating insights into scientific endeavour, especially by palaeontologists who were perusing a personal interest rather than a career. The problems of maintaining research facilities in universities, especially in the modern era, are described and reveal a noticeable absence of a national UK strategy to preserve centres of excellence in an avowedly specialist area. Accounts of some of the pioneers demonstrate the importance of collaboration between taxonomists and illustrators. The importance of palaeobotany in the rise of geoconservation is outlined, as well as the significant and influential role of women in the discipline. Although this volume has a predominantly UK focus, two very interesting studies outline the history of palaeobotanical work in Argentina and China.

This book provides up-to-date coverage of fossil plants from Precambrian life to flowering plants, including fungi and algae. It begins with a discussion of geologic time, how organisms are preserved in the rock record, and how organisms are studied and interpreted and takes the student through all the relevant uses and interpretations of fossil plants. With new chapters on additional flowering plant families, paleoecology and the structure of ancient plant communities, fossil plants as proxy records for paleoclimate, new methodologies used in phylogenetic reconstruction and the addition of new fossil plant discoveries since 1993, this book provides the most comprehensive account of the geologic history and evolution of microbes, algae, fungi, and plants through time. * Major revision of a 1993 classic reference * Lavishly illustrated with 1,800 images and user friendly for use by paleobotanists, biologists, geologists and other related scientists * Includes an expanded glossary with an extensive up-to-date bibliography and a comprehensive index * Provides extensive coverage of fungi and other microbes, and major groups of land plants both living and extinct