A perfect handbook for university students and the keen amateur. Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. We are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork.

The preparation of this book was motivated by a longfelt need for a concise yet fairly comprehensive textbook of paleobotany for use in American colleges and universities. Although separate courses in paleobotany are not offered in many institutions, fossil plants are frequently treated in regular courses in botany and paleontology. In these courses both student and instructor are often compelled to resort to widely scattered publications, which are not always conveniently available. Lack of ready access to sources of information has retarded instruction in paleobotany and has lessened the number of students specializing in this field. Another effect no less serious has been the frequent lack of appreciation by botanists and paleontologists of the importance of fossil plants in biological and geological science.