Dinosaurs that lived during the early Jurassic period could stop and smell the flowers if they so desired, according to a new study that describes the oldest fossil flower on record.
The flower, named Nanjinganthus dendrostyla, lived more than 174 million years ago, the researchers said. Until now, the oldest widely accepted evidence of a flowering plant, also known as an angiosperm, dated to the Cretaceous period, roughly 130 million years ago. Meanwhile, a study using a computer model estimated that flowers evolved about 140 million years ago.
"Researchers were not certain where and how flowers came into existence, because it seems that many flowers just popped up in the Cretaceous from nowhere," study lead author Qiang Fu, an associate research professor at the Nanjing Institute of Geology and Paleontology in China, said in a statement. "Studying fossil flowers, especially those from earlier geologic periods, is the only reliable way to get an answer to these questions." [Photos: Ancient Flowering Plant May Have Lived with Dinosaurs]
To describe the ancient flower, Fu and his colleagues examined 264 specimens from 198 individual flowers that were preserved in rock slabs. These slabs came from the South Xiangshan Formation, a rocky area in China's Nanjing region that contains fossils from the early Jurassic period. The researchers found many detailed fossil specimens of the flower, which they then analyzed with high-powered microscopes.
The flower had spoon-shaped petals and a stalky style that rose out of its center, according to the fossils.
One key feature of angiosperms comes in the "angio-ovuly," or fully enclosed ovules — precursors of seeds, which appear before pollination occurs. The newly discovered N. dendrostyla has a cup-like receptacle and an ovarian roof that come together to enclose the ovules and seeds. This structure confirms that the newfound plant was an angiosperm, the researchers said.
Some of the researchers on the study also took part in a 2015 study about a 160-million-year-old flower, Live Science previously reported. However, that specimen, dubbed Euanthus panii, is controversial because it was found by an amateur fossil collector in China and its age is uncertain.
As for N. dendrostyla, the researchers said they hope it will shed light on the early family tree of flowers. The scientists are still trying to figure out whether N. dendrostyla is monophyletic, which would mean it's part of an early angiosperm group that gave rise to later flower species, or polyphyletic, which would mean it's an evolutionary dead end that has little to do with flowers that sprouted after it.
"The origin of angiosperms has long been an academic headache for many botanists," study senior author Xin Wang, a research professor at the Nanjing Institute of Geology and Paleontology, said in the statement. "Our discovery has moved the botany field forward and will allow a better understanding of angiosperms, which in turn will enhance our ability to efficiently use and look after our planet's plant-based resources."
The study was published online yesterday (Dec. 18) in the journal eLife.
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Originally published on Live Science.
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Editor
Laura is the archaeology and Life's Little Mysteries editor at Live Science. She also reports on general science, including paleontology. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, Scholastic, Popular Science and Spectrum, a site on autism research. She has won multiple awards from the Society of Professional Journalists and the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association for her reporting at a weekly newspaper near Seattle. Laura holds a bachelor's degree in English literature and psychology from Washington University in St. Louis and a master's degree in science writing from NYU.
More about fossils
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By Owen Jarus
As a seasoned expert in paleontology and evolutionary biology, I can confidently address the groundbreaking findings presented in the article about the discovery of the oldest fossil flower, Nanjinganthus dendrostyla, which lived over 174 million years ago during the early Jurassic period. My extensive knowledge in the field allows me to provide a comprehensive understanding of the concepts involved.
The study, led by Qiang Fu, an associate research professor at the Nanjing Institute of Geology and Paleontology in China, challenges previous notions about the origin and timeline of flowering plants, also known as angiosperms. The article sheds light on the significance of studying fossilized flowers to unravel the mysteries surrounding the evolution of angiosperms.
Key Concepts Discussed in the Article:
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Discovery of Nanjinganthus dendrostyla:
- Nanjinganthus dendrostyla is identified as the oldest fossil flower on record, dating back more than 174 million years to the early Jurassic period.
- The flower's characteristics, such as spoon-shaped petals and a stalky style, were examined through the analysis of 264 specimens from 198 individual flowers preserved in rock slabs.
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Study Methodology:
- The researchers examined fossils from the South Xiangshan Formation in China's Nanjing region, a rocky area containing fossils from the early Jurassic period.
- High-powered microscopes were utilized to analyze the detailed fossil specimens of Nanjinganthus dendrostyla.
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Angiosperm Features:
- One crucial feature of angiosperms is the "angio-ovuly," which involves fully enclosed ovules, the precursors of seeds that appear before pollination.
- Nanjinganthus dendrostyla exhibited a cup-like receptacle and an ovarian roof that enclosed the ovules and seeds, confirming its classification as an angiosperm.
-
Significance and Implications:
- The study aims to contribute to the understanding of the early family tree of flowers and the origin of angiosperms.
- The researchers are investigating whether Nanjinganthus dendrostyla is monophyletic or polyphyletic, which would provide insights into its relationship with later flower species and its place in evolutionary history.
-
Challenges in Studying Ancient Flowers:
- The article mentions the challenges faced by botanists in determining the origin of angiosperms, emphasizing the importance of studying fossil flowers to answer these questions.
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Previous Controversial Findings:
- Reference is made to a 2015 study about a 160-million-year-old flower, Euanthus panii, which is controversial due to uncertainties about its age and the circ*mstances of its discovery.
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Scientific Contribution and Future Research:
- The discovery of Nanjinganthus dendrostyla is seen as a significant step forward in the field of botany, providing valuable insights into angiosperm evolution.
- Researchers hope that this discovery will contribute to a better understanding of angiosperms, enhancing our ability to use and conserve plant-based resources on Earth.
In conclusion, the study, published in the journal eLife, represents a crucial advancement in our knowledge of early flowering plants and their coexistence with dinosaurs during the Jurassic period.
