Cambridge Natural Science Manuals. Biological Series

Fossil plants, Vol. 1: [A text-book] for students of botany and geology

IN acceding to Mr Shipleys request to write a book on Fossil Plants for the Cambridge Natural History Series, I am well aware that I have undertaken a work which was considered too serious a task by one who has been called a founder of modern Palaeobotany. I owe more than I am able to express to the friendship and guidance of the late Professor Williamson; and that I have attempted a work to which he consistently refused to commit himself, requires a word of explanation. My excuse must be that I have endeavoured to write a book which may render more accessible to students some of the important facts of Palaeobotany, and suggest lines of investigation in a subject which Williamson had so thoroughly at heart. The subject of Palaeobotany does not readily lend itself to adequate treatment in a work intended for both geological and botanical students. The Botanist and Geologist are not always acquainted with each others subject in a sufficient degree to appreciate the significance of Palaeobotany in its several points of contact with Geology and recent Botany. I have endeavoured to bear in mind the possibility that the following pages may be read by both non-geological and non-botanical students. It needs but a slight acquaintance with Geology for a Botanist to estimate the value of the most important applications of Palaeobotany; on the other hand, the bearing of fossil plants on the problems of phylogeny andvi descent cannot be adequately understood without a fairly intimate knowledge of recent Botany. The student of elementary geology is not as a rule required to concern himself with vegetable palaeontology, beyond a general acquaintance with such facts as are to be found in geological text-books. The advanced student will necessarily find in these pages much with which he is already familiar; but this is to some extent unavoidable in a book which is written with the dual object of appealing to Botanists and Geologists. While considering those who may wish to extend their botanical or geological knowledge by an acquaintance with Palaeobotany, my aim has been to keep in view the requirements of the student who may be induced to approach the subject from the standpoint of an original investigator. As a possible assistance to those undertaking research in this promising field of work, I have given more references than may seem appropriate to an introductory treatise, and there are certain questions dealt with in greater detail than an elementary treatment of the subject requires. In several instances references are given in the text or in footnotes to specimens of Coal-Measure plants in the Williamson cabinet of microscopic sections. Now that this invaluable collection of slides has been acquired by the Trustees of the British Museum, the student of Palaeobotany has the opportunity of investigating for himself the histology of Palaeozoic plants. ......Buy Now (To Read More)

Product details

Ebook Number: 68043
Author: Seward, A. C. (Albert Charles)
Release Date: May 10, 2022
Format: eBook
Language: English
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Publication Date: 1898
Publisher Country: en