The Evolution of Plants

by K.J. Willis, J.C. McElwain

This is a broad examination of the evolution of plants from the earliest forms of life to the development of our present flora. The book incorporates studies on the morphological evolution of plants, and aims to enliven the subject with research on ancient DNA and other biomolecular markers. It places plant evolution in the context of climate change and mass extinction.

Genres: Science, Biology, Evolution, Nonfiction, Plants

392 pages, Paperback

First published March 21, 2002

Reviews

[Old Man JP · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating! This is an undergraduate textbook I picked up at a used book store. A textbook is not the type of book I would normally read but the subject matter absolutely fascinates me so I gave it a try. Since it's a textbook I have to admit that the amount of information was a bit of an overload and is not intended to be read straight through, without breaks to digest it, as I did but once I got started I couldn't quit. It covered a vast amount of information from the earliest known plant life (Prokarytes found in stromatolites) progressing through the geological time periods and discussed each form of plant life as they evolved. What particularly interested me were maps that showed the progression of various plant types during geological periods as the continents drifted. The book is intended as a general overview of the subject and is meant as an introduction for further study by the students taking the class but for my purposes it was perfect. Although I would like to read more about this fascinating subject in the future.

[Brandon Meredith]

Very dense book chock full of info. Loved learning about the "recent" development of grasses and the transition from water to land plants. Also, the evolution of flowering plants was interesting.