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Palaeontology

Turning over a new leaf

Nature volume 410, pages 309–310 (2001)Cite this article

A model based on biophysical principles of plant physiology, and drawing on fossil and environmental data, indicates that the origin of leaves was triggered by falling levels of atmospheric CO2.

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Figure 1: The advent of megaphylls — leaves with a broad lamina (flat blade), as opposed to the spine-like photosynthetic appendages of clubmosses.

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  1. Department of Palaeontology, The Natural History Museum, London, SW7 5BD, UK

    Paul Kenrick

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  1. Paul Kenrick
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Correspondence to Paul Kenrick.

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Kenrick, P. Turning over a new leaf. Nature 410, 309–310 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1038/35066649

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