Georgia’s Prehistoric Native Plants: Our 300-million-year-old Garden

More than 300 million years ago, the land that was to become Georgia was forested by huge but strange trees and plants that thrived in swamps near ancient coastlines. There were no flowering plants or grasses, but instead there were ferns and related flora that later formed the coal beds mined throughout the Appalachians. Fossil evidence of these plants is found in the coal mine dumps, and their descendants sometimes grow near their fossilized ancestors. This program will cover the geology, paleo-climate, and diversity of Georgia’s ancient native plants.

Speaker: Jose Santamaria served as Executive Director of Tellus Science Museum from 1996 through 2023 and remained involved with the museum’s exhibit and expansion projects until his retirement in 2025. He now serves as Executive Director Emeritus and volunteers with the museum’s mineral and fossil collection. Jose is the editor of Minerals of Georgia (2016) and has published articles and papers on minerals and fossils. He currently serves as Vice President of the Rome Mineral Society and Co-Chair of the Georgia Mineral Society Micromount Section.

Sponsored by the Georgia Native Plant Society North Metro Chapter.