Plant Fossil Info: Fossil plants are widely collected for their aesthetic and scientific value. Fossil plants have helped scientists to learn an incredible amount about how plants evolved from the first Precambrian one celled forms to the complicated flowering plants of modern times. Fossil plants can also be used to determine the age of a layer of rocks. For example, if it is known that a certain plant lived at a certain time but the age of the rock layer is not know- finding that fossil plant in the rock layer helps scientists to determine the age of the layer. In addition, entire climates and ecosystem information can be reconstructed using what is known about fossil plants.

The Study of Plant Fossils: The study of fossil plants is conducted by a scientist referred to as a paleobotanist. Paleobotanists attempt to put together the history of the plant kingdom by looking at plant fossils and other organisms like fungi or plankton. Paleobotanists use fossil leaves, fossil wood fragments, fossilized fruits and fossilized flowers to answer questions about the ecological activities and locations of plant species. This information can also be gathered by looking at substances made by plants such as coals, resins and chemicals. The study of plant fossils or palynology is very important to the discovery of minerals and petroleum as well as putting together rocks layers that are separated by geographical features. Plant fossils can reveal information about the habitat, biology and physical structure of plants that lived millions of years ago. Paleobotanists are interested in the function of ancient plants, the environment of ancient plants and the fossilization of plants.

Types of Plant Fossils and Plant Fossil formation: The most common type of plant fossil is referred to as an “impression”. An impression occurs when the plant is buried in sediment and all water is expelled from plant tissues. Article on common plant fossils and formation of plant fossils.

Ginko Leaf- Ginko trees are considered living fossils.


Plant Fossil Localities

Number....................Location
1...................Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona
2...................Green River Shale, Wyoming
3...................Mazon Creek, Illinois

Plant Fossil Localities Article
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