^{Photo by mali maeder}

Not only dinosaurs walked and live on the Earth millions of years ago, but prehistoric plants also existed, and they once thrived on a planet that slowly deteriorated over time. We’ll learn more about their history, classifications, and significance.

The study of plants that lived in centuries past is called Paleobotany. It helps us determine what life on Earth was like eons ago. Paleobotany is a fascinating branch of science because it illustrates the diverse paradise that the Earth once was. Fossil plant life makes us ask what the hungry herbivores had for their diet and other questions, like when flowers first bloomed on land.

Paleobotany provides information on the ancient landscape of the Earth and how plant life formed its current atmosphere. The term Paleobotany is derived from the prefix Paleo which originated from the Greek words which translate to old; meanwhile, the word Botany means the study of plants. It’s only a fraction of a giant branch called Paleontology which is a more general overview of every ancient life on the planet.

Scientists continue to learn more about the Earth’s prehistoric environment by studying the plants that once grew there. These plants help create a picture and tell how our planet has transformed through the millennia. Not only do they significantly portray the Earth’s past life, but fossilized plants also tell us about every animal’s life before it went extinct.

Prehistoric plants and their history

Paleobotany goes back. Prehistoric plants are also easily distinguished from all the collected samples from different researchers. The data gathered from several books published dates back to the early 1700s, which already included illustrations. Those books became the most comprehensive compilation that increased interest in prehistoric plants. Various species of them were collected from England, Germany, and Switzerland.

The enthusiasm for further discovery and research grew over time to the point that scientists themselves published books containing more detailed information on prehistoric plant life that evolved in various regions of the planet. Through that, they realized how it was possible to determine the regional climates by identifying and examining prehistoric plants.

The famous Charles Darwin even paid attention to and acknowledged the significant contributions of Paleobotany in the natural world. He believes how plants evolved throughout history contributes to learning more about our planet. The growth of prehistoric plants can also be attributed to coal mining.

How Paleobotany shaped our world

The significant research on prehistoric plants binds together all other information regarding Earth’s evolution, solving problems related to how the planet was formed. Because of Paleobotany, the earliest occurrences of life evolving were recorded in detail. The study led to discoveries of plant species we missed encountering. And with this set of sequential knowledge, researchers can develop a more precise understanding of every ecological relationship.

An example of published works that illustrate Paleobotany is the book “A Guide to Pennsylvanian (Carboniferous)” by Thomas F. McLoughlin. It’s a picture-perfect guide showcasing fossil plants, including marine fossil organisms in the central Appalachian region. The book carefully categorizes them according to their groups and specimens along sampling site locations.

The book is also a comprehensive information provider that describes the following plant groups in layperson’s terms for easier understanding. Readers will come across 71 plates with over 300 pictures and detailed illustrations, which are mostly colored.

Prehistoric plants and their role in ecological research

Traces of fossil plants can already tell which animals consumed them for food and utilized them as shelter and habitat. Their specifics can infer the ancient environment and how the ecosystem worked. These plants give away what type of climate was predominant and still is today, letting us know about the landscape’s reconstruction throughout history.

Paleobotany also offers possible answers to common myths, like how continents used to move ages ago. By studying fossil plants, scientists can get a glimpse of the climate that affected these plants’ structure and composition, which are significant to how they adapt to certain living conditions. And when it comes to petroleum and coal issues, prehistoric plants significantly contribute to the search for solutions.

Archaeology also benefited from fossil life, particularly in Paleobotany, because the discovered plant tissues are analyzed, which helps interpret information relevant to earth science. Cereal domestication can also be credited to the study of prehistoric plants because of how fossil seeds and grain were used to progress archaeological knowledge. Every plant on Earth also bears a rich history which we might have never known without their existence.