
audiobook
by A. C. (Albert Charles) Seward
CAMBRIDGE BIOLOGICAL SERIES
FOSSIL PLANTS
PREFACE
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
CHAPTER XXVIII.
CHAPTER XXIX.
i. Stem.
ii. Leaf.
iii. Microsporangia.
iv. The Seed. Lagenostoma Williamson. - Lagenostoma Lomaxi, Oliver and Scott ex Williamson, MS.
This volume offers a detailed survey of extinct gymnosperm groups, guiding readers through the ancient world of seed‑bearing plants that dominated the Carboniferous and Permian landscapes. Focusing on the Pteridospermae, Cycadofilices, Cordaitales, and related Cycadophyta, it combines systematic descriptions with insights into their ecological roles. The text is richly illustrated with more than two hundred plates, showing fine morphological details that bring the fossil specimens to life. Designed for students of both botany and geology, it balances technical terminology with clear explanations, making complex concepts approachable.
The author draws on a wide network of international collections, integrating material from European museums, the Indian Geological Survey, and even far‑off Australian sites. By linking plant form to the sedimentary environments in which they were found, the book demonstrates how fossil flora illuminate past climates and continental arrangements. Each chapter includes concise summaries and reference lists that encourage further research. As a result, the work serves as both a solid textbook and a valuable reference for anyone exploring the deep history of terrestrial vegetation.
Language
en
Duration
~20 hours (1157K characters)
Release date
2025-05-23
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects

1863–1941
A leading British botanist and geologist, he helped turn fossil plants into a serious field of study and brought deep time vividly into view. His writing connects careful science with a real sense of wonder about the history of life on Earth.
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