A dazzlingly illustrated guide to the plant life of the dinosaur age, from intricate ferns to the most majestic megaflora The Mesozoic was dominated by a spectacular array of flora, from ferns, conifers, and cycads to ginkgos and flowering plants, as well as some enigmatic species with no modern-day descendants. This wide-ranging illustrated guide provides an unparalleled, in-depth look at the era’s extraordinary plant life, exploring its natural history, biology, and evolution over a span of 185 million years. Blending the latest discoveries in paleontology with informative profiles of extinct species and their living descendants, The Princeton Field Guide to Mesozoic Plants is a one-of-a-kind reference to the botanical wonders of the prehistoric world. Features hundreds of breathtaking illustrations, from life studies and scenic landscapes to detailed sketches of representative species - Introduces the history of plant paleontology and the dating, geography, and extinction of Mesozoic flora - Profiles hundreds of Mesozoic species, tracing the evolutionary relationships of fossil plants with living ones - Discusses photosynthesis, reproduction, growth, climate, plant communication, partnerships with fungi and animals, and conservation - Reveals how Mesozoic plants evolved in response to predation and changing environmental conditions - Journeys through the forests of the Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous periods - A must-have guide for anyone interested in the lost world of the dinosaurs "Each page of this remarkable book delivers information and knowledge, wonder and excitement." ---David Gascoigne, Travels with Birds "A must-have for those with an interest in fossil plants!" ---Ian Paulsen, The Birdbooker Report Nan Crystal Arens is professor of geoscience at Hobart and William Smith Colleges and former associate editor of the American Fern Journal . She is a trustee of the Paleontological Research Institution.