What plants would you like companies to make?

[Halichoeres]

Have you reached the stage of paleo-literacy where nonspecific trees and ferns aren't cutting it for your dioramas? Do you have three copies each of CollectA and Safari's prehistoric plants? Here you can vote on which plants you'd like to see companies make.

Some images of the nominees, in case you aren't familiar:

Calamites:


Cooksonia:


Eospermatopsis:


Lepidodendron:


Montsechia:


Pleuromeia:


Prototaxites:


Sanfordiacaulis:


Sigillaria:


Tempskya:

[Pachyrhinosaurus]

I'd buy any and all of these but voted for Lepidodendron, Calamites, and Sigilaria. All three being classic coal-region species found in my area.

[Over9K]

Man, wouldn't that be nice. Imagine a multi-piece "formation flora" set, gathering the relevant flora for each of the famous fossil beds.

[Crackington]

I have the tiny Cooksonia from the Evolution of Life series which is a nice little model.

However, like @Pachyrhinosaurus I've gone for the coal seam trees, especially Lepidodrendon. My Dad was a miner in the North East of England as a young man and has told me about the giant trees, roots and all that you could see in the pit. Be great to have a model of them.

[Protopatch]

Excellent, thanks for organizing this poll !
Having limited internet access at the moment, I couldn't connect to DTF on time to suggest Psaronius but it doesn't matter, the quintessence of the prehistoric greenery is there.
Voted for all the options

[thomasw100]

Just for those who are also interested in 3D printed models. Dinosauria Creatures has several plants in the making. They have started with ferns, but I have also heard of cycads and other stuff at some point down the road. I will keep you updated as soon as I have more information.

[SidB]

Just for those who are also interested in 3D printed models. Dinosauria Creatures has several plants in the making. They have started with ferns, but I have also heard of cycads and other stuff at some point down the road. I will keep you updated as soon as I have more information.

That would be an exciting development - look forward to your updates, T @thomasw100 .

[Sim]

Tim, can people who haven't voted, such as the figure companies, see the results of this poll?

[Faelrin]

All you need for Sanfordiacaulis is a green koosh ball and a stick lol.

I've not come across Montsechia, Pleuromeia, or Sigillaria before, but I voted for them too. They look interesting.

Now that I think of it, are there any models out there of (prehistoric) conifers, and Magnoliaceae flower trees? Could use some more ferns too.

[Renecito]

All you need for Sanfordiacaulis is a green koosh ball and a stick lol.

True 

I really would like to see prehistoric plants as accessories!

[triceratops83]

I voted for Calamites and Tempskya.

I think a safe bet for CollectA to make is some sort of conifer in their large range and a tree fern in the smaller range. Then they could be used for both prehistoric and modern dioramas.

[BlueKrono]

I voted for the most interesting-looking ones, but tbh I wouldn't buy any of them. Next poll: Top 10 prehistoric sponges!

[Protopatch]

All you need for Sanfordiacaulis is a green koosh ball and a stick lol.

How so ?^^

Now that I think of it, are there any models out there of (prehistoric) conifers, and Magnoliaceae flower trees?

Would be great

Prehistoric plants are unfairly overlooked by the figure makers, it is high time the latter considered them as important as dinosaurs.
Personally, I would have already recreated a full prehistoric flora if there were more choices of photolithoautotrophs

[SidB]

All you need for Sanfordiacaulis is a green koosh ball and a stick lol.

How so ?^^

Now that I think of it, are there any models out there of (prehistoric) conifers, and Magnoliaceae flower trees?

Would be great

Prehistoric plants are unfairly overlooked by the figure makers, it is high time the latter considered them as important as dinosaurs.
Personally, I would have already recreated a full prehistoric flora if there were more choices of photolithoautotrophs

My suspicion is that they are about as costly to produce as animal figures themselves, but would likely move more slowly, maybe much more slowly from the "store shelves". It's a shame, for sure, but I think that's the market reality, especially as much of the demand for dinosaurs comes from young children anf their parents.

[thomasw100]

My suspicion is that they are about as costly to produce as animal figures themselves, but would likely move more slowly, maybe much more slowly from the "store shelves". It's a shame, for sure, but I think that's the market reality, especially as much of the demand for dinosaurs comes from young children anf their parents.

I think it is an reflection even of the relative size of the two scientific fields, i.e. paleozoology compared to paleobotany. Like check on Amazon for books on dinosaurs or anything on extinct fauna and you will find heaps of books. Then check for books on paleobotany and you will not find much.

I have been trying to find a good introductory book on paleobotany now for quite some time, which would introduce the systematics and the evolution of plants over Earth history. The classic textbook "Paleobotany: The Biology and Evolution of Fossil Plants" which I would love to get is listed for an outrageous price like 1400 USD used. And I am not into reading books on screen.

So it comes not as a surprise that we do not get much in terms of models of prehistoric plants. Which is frustrating, but I do not know it that will ever change. I would have preferred if Haolonggood would have diversified into prehistoric plants rather than extant animals.

[SidB]

$1400 ! But then I shouldn't be overly surprised, T @thomasw100 .

[Faelrin]

@CharlieNovember One of these:



Alternatively there's ones with thicker strands out there. A stick, clay, etc could form the trunk. Might need to remove some of the strands too, but it should work I guess.

[Halichoeres]

I'd buy any and all of these but voted for Lepidodendron, Calamites, and Sigilaria. All three being classic coal-region species found in my area.

The coal-seam flora is super alien and fascinating!

Man, wouldn't that be nice. Imagine a multi-piece "formation flora" set, gathering the relevant flora for each of the famous fossil beds.

Unfortunately, a lot of the conditions that favor fossilization of bone are unfavorable for the fossilization of plant parts, and vice versa. But we could probably get close enough with things from the same general region and time.

Excellent, thanks for organizing this poll !
Having limited internet access at the moment, I couldn't connect to DTF on time to suggest Psaronius but it doesn't matter, the quintessence of the prehistoric greenery is there.
Voted for all the options

Psaronius would be good, too. Safari's is nice enough but has its new shoots growing out backward!

Tim, can people who haven't voted, such as the figure companies, see the results of this poll?

When a few more accumulate it I'll make the results visible.

My suspicion is that they are about as costly to produce as animal figures themselves, but would likely move more slowly, maybe much more slowly from the "store shelves". It's a shame, for sure, but I think that's the market reality, especially as much of the demand for dinosaurs comes from young children anf their parents.

I think it is an reflection even of the relative size of the two scientific fields, i.e. paleozoology compared to paleobotany. Like check on Amazon for books on dinosaurs or anything on extinct fauna and you will find heaps of books. Then check for books on paleobotany and you will not find much.

I have been trying to find a good introductory book on paleobotany now for quite some time, which would introduce the systematics and the evolution of plants over Earth history. The classic textbook "Paleobotany: The Biology and Evolution of Fossil Plants" which I would love to get is listed for an outrageous price like 1400 USD used. And I am not into reading books on screen.

So it comes not as a surprise that we do not get much in terms of models of prehistoric plants. Which is frustrating, but I do not know it that will ever change. I would have preferred if Haolonggood would have diversified into prehistoric plants rather than extant animals.

Botanists refer to this as 'plant-blindness.' Plants operate on timescales that are inconvenient for our attention span, and we tend to see them as an amorphous, inert mass of scenery rather than living, breathing, fighting entities. I took a few botany courses in college and that fixed me right up!

As for Sanfordiacaulis, I once tried to make it out of Lego, but the result was not very impressive:

[Libraraptor]

I voted for all ten because I think that far too often, prehistoric plants are treated only as a backdrop and not as actors in their own right. That's probably because they don't have eyes

[Protopatch]

As for Sanfordiacaulis, I once tried to make it out of Lego, but the result was not very impressive:

Okay indeed lol in the absolute these would be cute as well as cost-effective homemade alternatives ( @Libraraptor they might be good options for your next paleo workshops with children ) but they don't look enough realistic in terms of colors, shape nor texture, in comparison with what companies could potentially offer.