Plantae: Fossil Record
Chart of First Appearances of Major Groups
The above chart shows the oldest undoubted fossil occurences of each of the major groups of plants. Note that a major radiation occurred in the Devonian, at which time the earliest vascular plants and seed plants appeared.
The above image is mapped! We have additional information on the geological time periods along the top of the image. Also, each of the taxonomic groups in pink boxes can be clicked upon to take you to its exhibit in our museum.
Search the Catalog and Index of the UCMP paleobotany collection, listing over 8,000 of our type specimens.
We suggest the following sites for more information on paleobotany:
