The Westfälische Wilhelms University in Münster is one of the few German universities where palaeobotany is taught and palaeobotanical research is carried out.  Our research primarily focuses on late Palaeozoic and early Mesozoic floras.  We aim to get a better insight in the natural relationships between the various, long since extinct groups of fossil plants, their development, palaeobiology and ecology, as well as biostratigraphy, palaeoclimatology and phytogeography.  Ongoing  research projects include the Early Devonian Rhynie Chert and gymnosperm cuticles.  Our regularly updated History of Palaeozoic Forests pages present an illustrated introductory text with many picture links.