Figure 1.

Fermentative behaviour of potential dinosaur food plants compared with that of angiosperms. Gp in the Hohenheim gas test is plotted versus fermentation time. (a) Various gymnosperms compared with angiosperms. Note that Ginkgo and some conifers (Cephalotaxaceae, Taxodiaceae, Pinaceae and Taxaceae) performed at the level of angiosperm browse, whereas podocarp conifers and cycads fared poorly. (b) Ferns compared with angiosperms. Note the great variability among ferns, including the very poor performance of the tree fern Dicksonia. (c) Araucariaceae and horsetails (Equisetum spp.) compared with angiosperms. Note that horsetails even surpass grasses and that araucarias outperform browse after 72 hours (DM, dry matter; means and standard error of the mean (s.e.m.) are indicated).