The Princeton Field Guide to Mesozoic Plants

A dazzlingly illustrated guide to the plant life of the dinosaur age, from intricate ferns to the most majestic megaflora

The Mesozoic was dominated by a spectacular array of flora, from ferns, conifers, and cycads to ginkgos and flowering plants, as well as some enigmatic species with no modern-day descendants. This wide-ranging illustrated guide provides an unparalleled, in-depth look at the era’s extraordinary plant life, exploring its natural history, biology, and evolution over a span of 185 million years. Blending the latest discoveries in paleontology with informative profiles of extinct species and their living descendants, The Princeton Field Guide to Mesozoic Plants is a one-of-a-kind reference to the botanical wonders of the prehistoric world.

• Features hundreds of breathtaking illustrations, from life studies and scenic landscapes to detailed sketches of representative species
• Introduces the history of plant paleontology and the dating, geography, and extinction of Mesozoic flora
• Profiles hundreds of Mesozoic species, tracing the evolutionary relationships of fossil plants with living ones
• Discusses photosynthesis, reproduction, growth, climate, plant communication, partnerships with fungi and animals, and conservation
• Reveals how Mesozoic plants evolved in response to predation and changing environmental conditions
• Journeys through the forests of the Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous periods
• A must-have guide for anyone interested in the lost world of the dinosaurs

Nan Crystal Arens is professor of geoscience at Hobart and William Smith Colleges and former associate editor of the American Fern Journal. She is a trustee of the Paleontological Research Institution.