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First Fruits

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Dynamic Paleontology

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Abstract

When did the first fruits appear? The ‘fruit grade’ of plant evolution was apparently attained by multiple lineages (Caytoniales, angiosperm ancestors) simultaneously in the earliest Jurassic at a time of profound global cooling in the wake of a major mass extinction. Where fossils are rare, due to their enclosing strata being deposited shortly after a mass extinction or for other reasons, each fossil discovery is potentially critical.

Time has endless rarities, and shows of all varieties; which reveals old things in heaven, makes new discoveries in earth, and even earth itself a discovery.

Thomas Browne (1605–1682), Hydriotaphia

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geology and Geography, Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, MA, USA

    Mark A. S. McMenamin

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  1. Mark A. S. McMenamin
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Correspondence to Mark A. S. McMenamin .

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McMenamin, M.A.S. (2016). First Fruits. In: Dynamic Paleontology. Springer Geology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-22777-1_13

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