Plants in Mesozoic Time: Morphological Innovations, Phylogeny, Ecosystems

by Carole T. Gee (Editor), Sergio Archangelsky (Contribution by), Anal a Artabe (Contribution by), Sidney R. Ash (Contribution by), Nina L. Baghai-Riding (Contribution by)

Overview

Plants in Mesozoic Time showcases the latest research of broad botanical and paleontological interest from the world's experts on Mesozoic plant life. Each chapter covers a special aspect of a particular plant group—ranging from horsetails to ginkgophytes, from cycads to conifers—and relates it to key innovations in structure, phylogenetic relationships, the Mesozoic flora, or to animals such as plant-eating dinosaurs. The book's geographic scope ranges from Antarctica and Argentina to the western interior of North America, with studies on the reconstruction of the Late Jurassic vegetation of the Morrison Formation and on fossil angiosperm lianas from Late Cretaceous deposits in Utah and New Mexico. The volume also includes cutting-edge studies on the evolutionary developmental biology ("evo-devo") of Mesozoic forests, the phylogenetic analysis of the still enigmatic bennettitaleans, and the genetic developmental controls of the oldest flowers in the fossil record.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780253354563
Publisher:	Indiana University Press
Publication date:	07/16/2010
Series:	Life of the Past
Pages:	424
Product dimensions:	7.20(w) x 10.20(h) x 1.20(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Carole T. Gee is Senior Research Scientist in Paleobotany, Division of Paleontology at the Steinmann Institute, University of Bonn, Germany.

Table of Contents

Preface, Dedication, and Acknowledgments Carole T. Gee xi

The Career of Ted Delevoryas: Appreciation and Publications Thomas N. Taylor Edith L. Taylor Charles P. Daghlian

Part 1 Morphological Innovations in Mesozoic Plants

1 Architectural Innovation and Developmental Controls in Some Mesozoic Gymnosperms, or, Why Do The Leaf Crowns in Mesozoic Forests Look Tufted? Ian Sussex Nancy Kerk Carole T. Gee 5

2 Modern Traits in Early Mesozoic Sphenophytes: The Equisetum-like Cones of Spaciinodum collinsonii with In Situ Spores and Elaters from the Middle Triassic of Antarctica Andrew B. Schwendemann Thomas N. Taylor Edith L. Taylor Michael Krings Jeffrey M. Osborn 15

3 Pollen and Coprolite Structure in Cycadeoidea (Bennettitales): Implications for Understanding Pollination and Mating Systems in Mesozoic Cycadeoids Jeffrey M. Osborn Mackenzie L. Taylor 35

4 Independent Evolution of Seed Enclosure in the Bennettitales: Evidence from the Anatomically Preserved Cone Foxeoidea connatum gen. et sp. nov. Gar W. Rothwell Ruth A. Stockey 51

5 A Mosaic of Characters in a New Whole-Plant Araucaria, A. delevoryasii Gee sp. nov., from the Late Jurassic Morrison Formation of Wyoming, U.S.A. Carole T. Gee William D. Tidwell 67

6 Major Innovations in Angiosperm Evolution David L. Dilcher 97

7 Implications of Fossil Floral Data on Understanding the Early Evolution of Molecular Developmental Controls of Flowers David Winship Taylor 119

Part 2 Phylogeny of Mesozoic Plants

8 Late Triassic Ginkgoleans of North America Sidney R. Ash 173

9 Review of the Cycads and Bennettitaleans from the Mesozoic of Argentina N. Rubén Cúneo Ignacio Escapa Liliana Villar de Seoane Analía Artabe Silvia Gnaedinger 187

10 The Bennettitales (Cycadeoidales): A Preliminary Perspective on This Arguably Enigmatic Group William L. Crepet Dennis W. Stevenson 215

11 Endemism of Early Cretaceous Conifers in Western Gondwana Sergio Archangelsky Georgina M. Del Fueyo 247

12 Oldest Known Dicotyledonous Lianas from the Early Late Cretaceous of Utah and New Mexico, U.S.A. William D. Tidwell Sidney R. Ash Brooks B. Britt 271

Part 3 Ecosystems and Mesozoic Plants

13 Palynological Evidence for Conifer Dominance within a Heterogeneous Landscape in the Late Jurassic Morrison Formation, U.S.A. Carol L. Hotton Nina L. Baghai-Riding 295

14 Mesozoic Plants and Dinosaur Herbivory P. Martin Sander Carole T. Gee Jürgen Hummel Marcus Clauss 331

Contributors 361

Index 365

What People are Saying About This

Denver Museum of Nature and Science - Kirk R. Johnson

It has been some time since there was a volume dedicated to Mesozoic plants. . . . This book will have merit as a reference for years to come.

M. S. Zavada

Plants in Mesozoic Time is an edited volume in honor of the career contributions of Ted Delevoryas (emer., Univ. of Texas, Austin) to paleobotany. The diverse interests of the chapter authors, all of whom are academically related to Delevoryas, make this volume an eclectic assortment of articles that are thematically disjunct on various aspects of Mesozoic paleobotany. The assortment of writings will interest a broad array of investigators. Most of the papers give overviews or reviews of the author's recent work, rather than detailed technical contributions on new investigations. This volume would be useful as a resource for supplemental reading to stimulate classroom discussion in an upper-level undergraduate or graduate course in paleobotany and paleobiology. The book is a testament to Ted Delevoryas's broad impact on the field of paleobotany. . .Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduate through professional collections. — Choice

M. S. Zavada]]>

Plants in Mesozoic Time is an edited volume in honor of the career contributions of Ted Delevoryas (emer., Univ. of Texas, Austin) to paleobotany. The diverse interests of the chapter authors, all of whom are academically related to Delevoryas, make this volume an eclectic assortment of articles that are thematically disjunct on various aspects of Mesozoic paleobotany. The assortment of writings will interest a broad array of investigators. Most of the papers give overviews or reviews of the author's recent work, rather than detailed technical contributions on new investigations. This volume would be useful as a resource for supplemental reading to stimulate classroom discussion in an upper-level undergraduate or graduate course in paleobotany and paleobiology. The book is a testament to Ted Delevoryas's broad impact on the field of paleobotany. . .Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduate through professional collections. — Choice

Editorial Reviews

"Plants in Mesozoic Time is an edited volume in honor of the career contributions of Ted Delevoryas (emer., Univ. of Texas, Austin) to paleobotany. The diverse interests of the chapter authors, all of whom are academically related to Delevoryas, make this volume an eclectic assortment of articles that are thematically disjunct on various aspects of Mesozoic paleobotany. The assortment of writings will interest a broad array of investigators. Most of the papers give overviews or reviews of the author's recent work, rather than detailed technical contributions on new investigations. This volume would be useful as a resource for supplemental reading to stimulate classroom discussion in an upper-level undergraduate or graduate course in paleobotany and paleobiology. The book is a testament to Ted Delevoryas's broad impact on the field of paleobotany. . .Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduate through professional collections. — Choice"—M. S. Zavada, East Tennessee State University, February 2011

"The assortment of writings will interest a broad array of investigators. . . . Recommended."—Choice

"The 14 chapters in this edited volume provide a broad and a fascinating view of the flora of the Mesozoic . . . The range of topics in this book means that there should be something for anyone with an interest in paleobotany. . . Vol. 86"—Quarterly Review of Biology

"[This] volume is immaculately edited, outstandingly readable and beautifully illustrated."—American Paleontologist

"[T]he book will indoubtedly be invaluable to graduate students, faculty, and researchers in the fields of biology, botany, and paleontology. 2011"—American Reference Books Annual

"This book will be a valuable reference for anyone interested in the biology, paleontology, and paleobotany of the Mesozoic flora and fauna including earth and life scientists and academics, plaeontologists, geologists, and environmental scientists. This very detailed book clearly represents a lifetime of study by the author and is a valuable contribution to the literature."—Plant Science Bulletin

"It has been some time since there was a volume dedicated to Mesozoic plants. . . . This book will have merit as a reference for years to come."—Kirk R. Johnson, Denver Museum of Nature and Science

From the Publisher

The assortment of writings will interest a broad array of investigators. . . . Recommended.

Choice

[T]he book will indoubtedly be invaluable to graduate students, faculty, and researchers in the fields of biology, botany, and paleontology. 2011

American Reference Books Annual

The 14 chapters in this edited volume provide a broad and a fascinating view of the flora of the Mesozoic . . . The range of topics in this book means that there should be something for anyone with an interest in paleobotany. . . Vol. 86

Quarterly Review of Biology

This book will be a valuable reference for anyone interested in the biology, paleontology, and paleobotany of the Mesozoic flora and fauna including earth and life scientists and academics, plaeontologists, geologists, and environmental scientists. This very detailed book clearly represents a lifetime of study by the author and is a valuable contribution to the literature.

Plant Science Bulletin

[This] volume is immaculately edited, outstandingly readable and beautifully illustrated.

American Paleontologist

Plants in Mesozoic Time is an edited volume in honor of the career contributions of Ted Delevoryas (emer., Univ. of Texas, Austin) to paleobotany. The diverse interests of the chapter authors, all of whom are academically related to Delevoryas, make this volume an eclectic assortment of articles that are thematically disjunct on various aspects of Mesozoic paleobotany. The assortment of writings will interest a broad array of investigators. Most of the papers give overviews or reviews of the author's recent work, rather than detailed technical contributions on new investigations. This volume would be useful as a resource for supplemental reading to stimulate classroom discussion in an upper-level undergraduate or graduate course in paleobotany and paleobiology. The book is a testament to Ted Delevoryas's broad impact on the field of paleobotany...Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduate through professional collections. — Choice

M. S. Zavada

"It has been some time since there was a volume dedicated to Mesozoic plants.... This book will have merit as a reference for years to come." —Kirk R. Johnson, Denver Museum of Nature and Science

Kirk R. Johnson