Millions of years ago, widespread volcano eruptions in eastern Australia buried entire forests. Today, these time capsules reveal stunningly fossilised plants.

BOLINAS CA - DECEMBER 30: Artist Molly Brown, of Bolinas, founder of the Bolinas School of Botanical Art sketches a plant in Bolinas, Calif., on Friday, Dec. 30, 2022.

Despite making up less than 1% of Australia’s land area, at least 25% of Australia’s plant species inhabit these coastal islands.

Botany of Cook's First Voyage. Illustrations of Australian Plants. By Sir Joseph Banks Dr. D. Solander Part iii. Pp. iv + 25; with 75 plates. (Trustees of the British Museum, 1905.) Price 25s.