The Jurassic fossil plant record of the UK area

Plant life in the UK area during the three major epochs of the Jurassic (Early, Mid and Late) is discussed with emphasis on some of the groups that played an important role and/or were first described from British sediments. Palaeobotanists usually include the Rhaetian (late Triassic) in their discussions of the Early Jurassic because the Triassic/Jurassic extinction event is not very distinct in fossil floras. Rhaetian floras are often similar to Early Jurassic ones, and this overview starts with Rhaetian examples. Early Jurassic floras are rare as most of England and Wales was covered by a shallow sea at this time. However, Mid Jurassic floras are well known and diverse, especially those from Yorkshire and Stonesfield in Oxfordshire; smaller floras have been described from Scotland as well. Our knowledge about Late Jurassic floras comes mainly from Scotland and southern England.