Introduction to Plant Fossils / Введение в растительные ископаемые

This book introduces the reader to the study of plant fossils, and is especially aimed at those who have had little previous experience of this type of palaeontology. We have provided an illustrated text that summarises the main groups of plants that occur as fossils and explains how one should go about investigating them. Practical guidance is given on techniques that can be used to reveal hidden details of anatomical and reproductive characters, as well as the sorts of features that are used to identify some of the most commonly found plant fossils. Many of the approaches that are used to interpret plant fossils are discussed and we show how they can be used by the palaeobotanist to increase our knowledge of plant evolution, palaeoecology, palaeogeography and stratigraphy.