Ferns Forever

Ferns evolved 360 million years ago when the supercontinent Pangaea still existed. They are one of earth's most ancient plants and predated dinosaurs, mammals and flowering plants by over 120 million years. Once plant-eating dinosaurs evolved, ferns were their main meal. Luckily for the dinosaurs, ancient ferns were bigger than bite-sized; many species grew over 100 feet tall!

Ferns are vascular, which means they have internal vessels through which they pump water and nutrients. Vascular plants can grow tall, unlike nonvascular plants such as mosses, which can only grow an inch or two above th...