|
|
 |
|
|
 |
|
The Coal Forests
|
Imagine a world in which primitive plants grew as tall as trees and dragonflies as large as birds flew through the air. In fact, this environment was once widespread in Europe, Asia, and North America. These were the great Carboniferous coal forests that first appeared 350 million years ago and lasted for nearly 70 million years. The remains of these plants became seams of coal.
The forests grew in shallow coastal estuaries. As water levels rose, large areas of forest died.
(A) HORSETAILS
Giant horsetails had hollow trunks and whorls of leaves on the stem.
(B) DRAGONFLIES
Large dragonflies bred in shallow waters. Some had wings more than 28 cm wide.
(C) ROTTING PLANTS
As the plants rotted, they turned into a substance called peat. The lowest layers turned to coal.
(D) BRANCHES
Many of these simple plants had branches that were divided into two equal parts.
(E) FOSSIL LEAVES
The leaves of these great trees can often be found in coal.
(F) AMPHIBIANS
The shallow pools and rivers were full of fish and early forms of amphibians.
(G) ROOTS
The branched root systems of the trees gave strong support in soils and water.
|
| |
Previous:
Back
|
Book:
Prehistoric Life
|
Section:
Prehistoric
|
Chapter:
The Coal Forests
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
