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An unexpected noncarpellate epigynous flower from the Jurassic of China.

ABSTRACT: The origin of angiosperms has been a long-standing botanical debate. The great diversity of angiosperms in the Early Cretaceous makes the Jurassic a promising period in which to anticipate the origins of the angiosperms. Here, based on observations of 264 specimens of 198 individual flowers preserved on 34 slabs in various states and orientations, from the South Xiangshan Formation (Early Jurassic) of China, we describe a fossil flower, Nanjinganthus dendrostyla gen. et sp. nov.. The large number of specimens and various preservations allow for an evidence-based reconstruction of the flower. From the evidence of the combination of an invaginated receptacle and ovarian roof, we infer that the seeds of Nanjinganthus were completely enclosed. Evidence of an actinomorphic flower with a dendroid style, cup-form receptacle, and angiospermy, is consistent with Nanjinganthus being a bona fide angiosperm from the Jurassic, an inference that we hope will re-invigorate research into angiosperm origins.

SUBMITTER: Fu Q

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6298773 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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An unexpected noncarpellate epigynous flower from the Jurassic of China.

Fu Qiang Q Diez Jose Bienvenido JB Pole Mike M García Ávila Manuel M Liu Zhong-Jian ZJ Chu Hang H Hou Yemao Y Yin Pengfei P Zhang Guo-Qiang GQ Du Kaihe K Wang Xin X

eLife 20181218

The origin of angiosperms has been a long-standing botanical debate. The great diversity of angiosperms in the Early Cretaceous makes the Jurassic a promising period in which to anticipate the origins of the angiosperms. Here, based on observations of 264 specimens of 198 individual flowers preserved on 34 slabs in various states and orientations, from the South Xiangshan Formation (Early Jurassic) of China, we describe a fossil flower, <i>Nanjinganthus dendrostyla</i> gen. et sp. nov.. The larg ...[more]

PMID: 30558712

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Dataset Information

An unexpected noncarpellate epigynous flower from the Jurassic of China.

Publications

An unexpected noncarpellate epigynous flower from the Jurassic of China.

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