Paleobotanical Insights into Angiosperm Evolution

Palaeobotany has illuminated the emergence and diversification of angiosperms across the Mesozoic and beyond. Fossilised leaves, flowers and reproductive structures preserved in Lagerstätten, fluvial and lacustrine deposits reveal key morphological innovations such as enclosed ovules, specialised perianth organs and varied placentation patterns. Combined with modern molecular frameworks, these fossil data pinpoint the origin of fundamental traits of flowering plants and trace the early adaptive radiations that led to their eventual dominance of terrestrial floras.

Recent discoveries have highlighted ecological interactions between early angiosperms and contemporaneous fauna, while anatomical studies of fossilised tissues have refined our understanding of carpel evolution and gynoecial homologies. Macro- and microfossil evidence now enables reconstructions of ancestral flower architectures and clarifies the sequence of trait acquisition in carpels, tepals and stamens. Globally, this research informs palaeoenvironmental reconstructions, enhances biodiversity assessments and underlies applied efforts in biomimetics and climate modelling, emphasising the profound legacy of flowering plants in Earth’s history.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Intra-gastric phytoliths preserved within a nearly complete skeleton of an early diverging avialan reveal that Jeholornis consumed magnoliid leaves, indicating a folivorous habit and early ecological connections between basal birds and angiosperm vegetation. This study provides direct evidence of an arboreal herbivore niche in the Early Cretaceous.

A remarkably complete fossil of the Nelumbonaceae from the late Early Cretaceous of Brazil exhibits both ancestral and derived traits in leaves and fruits. This discovery bridges morphological gaps within Proteales and supports molecular suggestions of unexpected relationships between lotus relatives and woody protealeans.

Model-based reconstructions of the ancestral angiosperm flower propose a bisexual, radially symmetric bloom with multiple whorls of undifferentiated perianth organs, numerous stamens and spirally arranged separate carpels. This seminal framework generates new hypotheses for the early diversification of flowers.

Paleobotanical Insights into Angiosperm Evolution publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in paleobotanical insights into angiosperm evolution across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Palaeobotany: The study of fossil plants and their evolutionary history.

Phytolith: Microscopic silica particles formed in plant tissues that can fossilise and inform on diet and vegetation.

Carpel: The basic unit of the female reproductive organ in flowers, enclosing the ovules.

Gynoecium: The collective term for all carpels in a flower.

Placentation: The arrangement of ovules within the gynoecium.

References

1. Intra-gastric phytoliths provide evidence for folivory in basal avialans of the Early Cretaceous Jehol Biota. Nature Communications (2023).
2. A new remarkable Early Cretaceous nelumbonaceous fossil bridges the gap between herbaceous aquatic and woody protealeans. Scientific Reports (2023).
3. The ancestral flower of angiosperms and its early diversification. Nature Communications (2017).
4. Unique Jurassic Ovaries Shed a New Light on the Nature of Carpels. Plants (2024).
5. Flower Buds Confirmed in the Early Cretaceous of China. Biology (2024).