Paleobotany

Paleobotany, also known as paleophytology, is the branch of paleontology or paleobiology dealing with the recovery and identification of plant remains from geological contexts, and their use for the biological reconstruction of past environments (paleoenvironment), and both the evolutionary history of plants, with a bearing upon the evolution of life in general.

History

Paleobotany has a long history. The first to study the remains of fossil plants was probably Leonardo da Vinci, during the Renaissance. However, the establishment of paleobotany as a scientific discipline can be attributed to the work of the German scientist Hermann von Meyer, who coined the name "paleobotany" and wrote the book Flora of the Past.

Methods

Paleobotanists employ a variety of methods to recover and study plant fossils. These include the traditional methods of paleontology, such as field work, collection, and the study of morphology, as well as more specialized techniques, such as palynology, which involves the study of fossil spores and pollen.

Applications

Paleobotany has important applications in the study of plant evolution, the reconstruction of ancient ecosystems, and climate change. It also has practical applications in fields such as petroleum geology and archaeology.

See also

• Fossil
• Paleontology
• Palynology
• Petroleum geology
• Archaeology

External links

• The Paleobotanical Section of the Botanical Society of America
• UCMP Berkeley's Introduction to Paleobotany

Paleobotany Resources
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