Trees are much older than grass
Trees evolved 370 million years ago, predating grass by nearly 300 million years, yet grass became fundamental to modern life and agriculture.
Trees first appeared about 370 million years ago, during the Devonian period. Surprisingly, grass didn't evolve until 80 million years ago, in the Cretaceous period! This means for 290 million years, Earth had vast forests but no grasslands. Even Jurassic dinosaurs never saw grass, living instead among ferns, cycads, and conifers.
There's more to this story — open the app to keep reading.
Continue Reading in App
1 more paragraphs · plus a 3-question quiz