The History of Land PlantsCase 4: Which plants created the coal beds?
Monster plants, the swamp plants that became coal.
Were some plants larger than their relatives are today?
Most land plant fossils from Indiana are from the Carboniferous (a portion that is also called the Pennsylvanian) that formed the coal that we use to make electricity. During this geological period the continents were close together and formed huge, wet, hot, lowland areas. At this time oxygen and carbon dioxide levels were high and would have enhanced plant growth.
In these swamps grew huge plants whose ancestors live today. As these plants died, they formed peat in the swamps that through time, heat and pressure became coal. Many of the descendents of these huge fossil species are rare, small forest herbs that poorly compete with the flowering plants that dominate today.
To see close-ups of the specimens in this display, click here. |
