Early Flowers and Angiosperm Evolution
"This book presents a comprehensive and detailed examination of the origin and diversification of the flowering plants (angiosperms) based on their rich Cretaceous fossil record. The text is richly complemented by photographs and illustrations of the fossils. These chapters present information on all types of available fossil evidence, but the bulk of the Cretaceous angiosperm record, and the great strength of this book, is the compilation of information on the abundant and diverse "mesofossils" (small fossil flowers, fruits, and seeds) that have been described by Friis, Crane, and Pederson (and several other authors) over the past 30 years or so. This book will be very useful as a textbook for university courses. It may also be of interest to the dedicated amateur botanist or paleontologist, and it will be an essential reference for researchers working in angiosperm systematics and evolution."Patrick S. Herendeen, Chicago Botanic Garden"The richly illustrated book gives a family-by-family synopsis of current knowledge and the existing literature. The book is a valuable resource for professionals and students interested in up-to-date information on the topic. Highly recommended.:"M.S. Zavada, Choice magazine"This book is a triumph of the combination of detail, experience and intellect. It answers many questions and asks many more. We are a long way from a full understanding of the origin and early evolution of angiosperms, but thanks to this book we now know, much more precisely than ever before, what questions we should ask and where the gaps in knowledge are. This is a great legacy from all three authors, but I am optimistic they all have much more to offer in the future."Bob Hill, University of Adelaide, South Australia"This long-awaited book represents not only a remarkable tour de force of palaeobotanical literature, but also a potentially enduring biological textbook. Part of its appeal lies in the excellence of its production. Numerous black-and-white line drawings of flowers and pollen grains of both fossil and extant plants, beautifully executed by Polyanna von Knorring, add considerably to its informative content and high visual impact."Paula J. Rudall, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society"this book makes a significant contribution to understanding flowering plant history  by assembling (in a single volume) an up-to-date illustrated summary of fossil evidence that establishes a pattern in the appearances of angiosperm taxa through geologic time. This volume will therefore serve as a valuable platform and  reference in the continuing evolution of our understanding of angiosperm history. Also of great value is the comprehensive treatment of extant and extinct nonangiospermous seed plants that have been variously implicated in the quest to  determine angiosperm ancestry. This treatment sets the stage for future  investigations aimed at shedding light on the still elusive question of angiosperm  origin. Hence, this is a useful book, one of considerable instructive value, and one that represents an impressive effort by its authors."William L. Crepet, The Quarterly Review of Biology"how do you write a definitive book for the 21st Century? Early Flowers and Angiosperm Evolution provides a blueprint... It stands as a superbly annotated index of the data behind our current understanding of early angiosperm evolution... This is among the most beautiful scholarly books I've seen in a long time. Outcrop pictures are clearly rendered in color, and maps and some diagrams include a touch of hue to enhance interpretation...It is detailed, accessible and offers a synthetic perspective from a team that has been thinking deeply about this topic for decades. And I hope this isn't the last word. But the thing I love best about paleontology is that one fossil can rewrite everything we thought that we knew. Then we'll be ready for the next definitive book."Nan Arens, Evolution - This View of Life: Paleontology