Early Land Plants and Environment in Yunnan, China

This book deals with the main research results of the early land plants in Yunnan province, studied by the authors and paleo-botanists at home and from abroad in 20 century, especially after the foundation of P. R. China. The book includes new discoveries, materials and study methods since 1970's. The systematics of early land plants is based on the combination of comparative morphology with geology and neontology. Taking live activities as a clue to the study, we have examined the evolution from non-vascular plants to vascular plants, which adhere to the terrestrial habits. The true features of every kinds such plants have been restored. A full, accurate and enlightening understanding of the origion and evolution of early land plants has been advanced.
The book includes 7 chapters, which deal separately with many topics of paleobotany being characteristic of Yunnan area, such as th current research status and prospect of early land plants in Yunnan, their geographical distribution, phytogeographical divisions, buried types, habitats, overall features, natures, characteristics, geological history, origin, evolution, systematics, etc.
The book has described 32 genera and 45 species of Alage, Bryophyta, Rhyniophyta, Zoslerophyllophyta, Trimerophytophyta, primitive vascular plant, Lycopsida, and plants incertae sedis. The book consists of 320000 words, 5 tables, 49 figures and 36 plates.
The book serves as an essential reference for colleagues of geosciences and life sciences at home and from abroad, who are interested in the early land plants, their origin and evolution. This is also an essential reference book for undergraduate and graduate students in the majors of bilogy, geology and interdisciplinary sciences, as well as for professors, scholars, researchers and the broad masses of field workers in the field of biology, environmental protection, geology, and petroleum and coal industries.

Chapter 1 Current research status and forecast of early land plants in Yunnan
Chapter 2 Distribution and geographical zonation of early land plants in Yunnan
Chapter 3 Occurrence horizons and correlation of early land plants in Yunnan
Chapter 4 Composition and geologic age of early land plants in Yunnan
Chapter 5 Paleo-environment of early land plants in Yunnan
Chapter 6 New understanding of origin and evolution of early land plants
Chapter 7 Systematics and description of early land plants in Yunnan
Major Reference
Index
Explanation of Plates
Plates