Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

New Fossils and New Hope for the Origin of Angiosperms

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Evolutionary Biology

Abstract

Angiosperms are the dominant group in modern vegetation. Despite their importance and over hundred years of research effort since the Darwin age, we still do not know much about the origin of this important group. Recently, Schmeissneria has pushed the origin of angiosperms close to the Triassic and at the same time the angiosperms in the early Cretaceous also demonstrate diversity higher than expected, suggesting that angiosperms have occurred long before the currently recognized oldest fossil record, unlike the currently predominant doctrine states. In this chapter, I will briefly summarize the information about several Chinese and German fossil plants ranging from the Early Cretaceous to Early Jurassic in age. These fossils, in addition to others, indicate that much of the angiosperm diversity was extinct before the Cretaceous, many pre-Cretaceous angiosperms may have no direct relationship with living angiosperms, and the key to the abominable mystery may lie in fossil plants that are unknown to scientists yet.

Dedicated to the 200th anniversary of Charles Darwin's birthday

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 169.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Chamberlain CJ (1957) Gymnosperms, structure and evolution. Johnson Reprint Corporation, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Cornet B (1986) The leaf venation and reproductive structures of a late Triassic angiosperm, Sanmiguelia lewisii. Evol Theory 7:231–308

    Google Scholar 

  • Cornet B (1989a) Late Triassic angiosperm-like pollen from the Richmond rift basin of Virginia, USA. Paläontogr B 213:37–87

    Google Scholar 

  • Cornet B (1989b) The reproductive morphology and biology of Sanmiguelia lewisii, and its bearing on angiosperm evolution in the late Triassic. Evol Trends Plants 3:25–51

    Google Scholar 

  • Cornet B (1993) Dicot-like leaf and flowers from the late Triassic tropical Newark Supergroup rift zone, USA. Mod Biol 19:81–99

    Google Scholar 

  • Cornet B, Habib D (1992) Angiosperm-like pollen from the ammonite-dated Oxfordian (upper Jurassic) of France. Rev Palaeobot Palynol 71:269–294

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Crane PR (1985) Phylogenetic analysis of seed plants and the origin of angiosperms. Ann Miss Bot Gard 72:716–793

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cronquist A (1988) The evolution and classification of flowering plants Botanical Garden, Bronx, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Dilcher DL, Sun G, Ji Q, Li H (2007) An early infructescence Hyrcantha decussata (comb. nov.) from the Yixian Formation in northeastern China. Proc Nat Acad Sci USA 104:9370–9374

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Doyle JA (2008) Integrating molecular phylogenetic and paleobotanical evidence on origin of the flower. Intl J Plant Sci 169:816–843

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Duan S (1998) The oldest angiosperm—a tricarpous female reproductive fossil from western Liaoning Province, NE China. Sci Chin D 41:14–20

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eames AJ (1961) Morphology of the angiosperms. McGraw-Hill, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Endress PK, Igersheim A (2000) Gynoecium structure and evolution in basal angiosperms. Intl J Plant Sci 161:S211–S223

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Friedman WE (1990) Sexual reproduction in Ephedra nevadensis (Ephedraceae): further evidence of double fertilization in a nonflowering seed plant. Am J Bot 77:1582–1598

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Friedman WE (1991) Double fertilization in Ephedra trifurca, a non flowering seed plant: the relationship between fertilization events and the cell cycle. Protoplasma 165:106–120

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Friedman WE (1992) Double fertilization in nonflowering seed plants. Int Rev Cytol 140:319–355

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Friis EM, Pedersen KR, Crane PR (2005) When earth started blooming: insights from the fossil record. Curr Opin Plant Biol 8:5–12

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Friis EM, Pedersen KR, Crane PR (2006) Cretaceous angiosperm flowers: innovation and evolution in plant reproduction. Palaeogeo Palaeoclim Palaeoecol 232:251–293

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harris TM (1940) Caytonia. Ann Bot 4:713–734

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harris TM (1964) Caytoniales, Cycadales & Pteridosperms. Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History), London

    Google Scholar 

  • Hochuli PA, Feist-Burkhardt S (2004) A boreal early cradle of angiosperms? Angiosperm-like pollen from the middle Triassic of the Barents Sea (Norway). J Micropalaeont 23:97–104

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hughes N (1994) The enigma of angiosperm origins. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • Ji Q, Li H, Bowe M, Liu Y, Taylor DW (2004) Early Cretaceous Archaefructus eoflora sp. nov. with bisexual flowers from Beipiao, Western Liaoning, China. Acta Geol Sin 78:883–896

    Google Scholar 

  • Judd WS, Campbell SC, Kellogg EA, Stevens PF (1999) Plant systematics: a phylogenetic approach. Sinauer, Sunderland, MA

    Google Scholar 

  • Kirchner M (1992) Untersuchungen an einigen Gymnospermen der Fränkischen Rhät-Lias-Grenzschichten. Paläontogr B 224:17–61

    Google Scholar 

  • Kirchner M, Van Konijnenburg-Van Cittert JHA (1994) Schmeissneria microstachys (Presl, 1833) Kirchner et Van Konijnenburg-Van Cittert, comb. nov. and Karkenia hauptmannii Kirchner et Van Konijnenburg-Van Cittert, sp. nov., plants with ginkgoalean affinities from the Liassic of Germany. Rev Palaeobot Palynol 83:199–215

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Krassilov V, Lewy Z, Nevo E (2004) Controversial fruit-like remains from the lower Cretaceous of the Middle East. Cret Res 25:697–707

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Krassilov VA (1982) Early Cretaceous flora of Mongolia. Paläontogr Abt B 181:1–43

    Google Scholar 

  • Kryshtofovich A (1982) Pleuromeia and Hausmannia in eastern Sibiria, with a summary of recent contribution to the palaeobotany of the region. Am J Sci 5:200–208

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Leng Q, Friis EM (2003) Sinocarpus decussatus gen. et sp. nov., a new angiosperm with basally syncarpous fruits from the Yixian Formation of Northeast China. Plant Syst Evol 241:77–88

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Leng Q, Friis EM (2006) Angiosperm leaves associated with Sinocarpus Leng et Friis infructescences from the Yixian Formation (mid-Early Cretaceous) of NE China. Plant Syst Evol 262:173–187

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li H, Taylor DW (1998) Aculeovinea yunguiensis gen. et sp. nov. (Gigantopteridales), a new taxon of gigantopterid stem from the upper Permian of Guizhou province, China. Int J Plant Sci 159:1023–1033

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li H, Tian B, Taylor EL, Taylor TN (1994) Foliar anatomy of Gigantonoclea guizhouensis (Gigantopteridales) from the upper Permian of Guizhou province, China. Am J Bot 81:678–689

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li H, Taylor EL, Taylor TN (1996) Permian vessel elements. Science 271:188–189

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pan G (1983) The Jurassic precursors of angiosperms from Yanliao region of North China and the origin of angiosperms. Chin Sci Bull 28:15–20

    Google Scholar 

  • Pocock SAJ, Vasanthy G (1988) Cornetipollis reticulata, a new pollen with angiospermid features from Upper Triassic (Carnian) sediments of Arizona (USA), with notes on Equisetosporites. Rev Palaeobot Palynol 55:337–356

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Potonie H (1921) Lehrbuch der Paläobotanik. Verlag von Gebrüder Borntraeger, Berlin, MA

    Google Scholar 

  • Presl KB (1838) In: Sternberg KM (ed) Versuch einer geognostisch-botanischen Darstellung der Flora der Vorwelt. Johann Spurny, Prag, pp 81–220

    Google Scholar 

  • Retallack G, Dilcher DL (1981) Arguments for glossopterid ancestry of angiosperms. Palaeobiol 7:54–67

    Google Scholar 

  • Rothwell GW (1972) Evidence of pollen tubes in Paleozoic pteridosperms. Science 175:772–724

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Schenk A (1867) Die fossile Flora der Grenzschichten des Keupers und Lias Frankens. C.W. Kreidel's Verlag, Wiesbaden

    Google Scholar 

  • Schenk A (1890) Paläophytologie. Druck und Verlag von R. Oldenbourg, München

    Google Scholar 

  • Scott RA, Barghoorn ES, Leopold EB (1960) How old are the angiosperms? Am J Sci 258A:284–299

    Google Scholar 

  • Shen GL, Gu ZG, Li KD (1976) More material of Hausmannia ussuriensis from Jingyuan, Gansu. J Lanzhou Univ 3:71–81

    Google Scholar 

  • Sporne KR (1971) The morphology of gymnosperms, the structure and evolution of primitive seed plants. Hutchinson University Library, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Stevens PF (2008) Angiosperm Phylogeny Website. http://www.mobot.org/MOBOT/research/APweb/. Cited 12 December 2008

  • Sun G (1981) Discovery of Dipteridaceae from the upper Triassic of eastern Jilin. Acta Palaeontol Sin 20:459–467

    Google Scholar 

  • Sun G (1993) Late Triassic flora from Tianqiaoling of Jilin, China. Jilin Science & Technology Press, Changchun

    Google Scholar 

  • Sun G, Dilcher DL, Zheng S, Zhou ZK (1998) In search of the first flower: a Jurassic angiosperm, Archaefructus, from Northeast China. Science 282:1692–1695

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sun G, Zheng S, Dilcher D, Wang Y, Mei S (2001) Early angiosperms and their associated plants from Western Liaoning, China. Shanghai Technology & Education Press, Shanghai

    Google Scholar 

  • Sun G, Ji Q, Dilcher DL, Zheng S, Nixon KC, Wang X (2002) Archaefructaceae, a new basal angiosperm family. Science 296:899–904

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Swisher CC, Wang Y-Q, Wang X-L, Xu X, Wang Y (1998) 40Ar/39Ar dating of the lower Yixian Fm, Liaoning Province, northeastern China. Abstract in the 9th International Conference on Geochronology, Cosmochronology and Isotope Geology (August 20–26, 1998), Beijing, China. Chinese Science Bulletin 43:125

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Taylor DW, Li H, Dahl J, Fago FJ, Zinniker D, Moldowan JM (2006) Biogeochemical evidence for the presence of the angiosperm molecular fossil oleanane in Paleozoic and Mesozoic non-angiospermous fossils. Paleobiology 32:179–190

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thomas HH (1925) The Caytoniales, a new group of angiospermous plants from the Jurassic rocks of Yorkshire. Phil Trans Roy Soc Lond 213B:299–363

    Google Scholar 

  • Tomlinson PB, Takaso T (2002) Seed cone structure in conifers in relation to development and pollination: a biological approach. Can J Bot 80:1250–1273

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang X (submitted) Schmeissneria: An early Jurassic angiosperm from Germany. Am J Bot

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang X, Duan S, Geng B, Cui J, Yang Y (2007a) Is Jurassic Schmeissneria an angiosperm? Acta Palaeontol Sin 46:486–490 (in Chinese, with English abstract)

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang X, Duan S, Geng B, Cui J, Yang Y (2007b) Schmeissneria: a missing link to angiosperms? BMC Evol Biol 7:14

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wang X, Wang S (in press) Xingxueanthus: An enigmatic Jurassic seed plant and its implications for the origin of angiospermy. Acta Geol Sin

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang X, Zheng S (2009) The earliest normal flower from Liaoning Province, China. J. Integr. Plant Biol. doi: 10.1111/j.1744-7909.2009.00838.x

    Google Scholar 

  • Wcislo-Luraniec E (1992) A fructification of Stachyopitys preslii Schenk from the lower Jurassic of Poland. Cour Forsch-Institut Senck 147:247–253

    Google Scholar 

  • Weng J-K, Li X, Stout J, Chapple C (2008) Independent origins of syringyl lignin in vascular plants. Proc Nat Acad Sci USA 105:7887–7892

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wu S-Q (1999) A preliminary study of the Jehol flora from the western Liaoning. Palaeoworld 11:7–37

    Google Scholar 

  • Xu R (1987) Do fossil angiosperms really occur in Jurassic beds of the Yanshan-Liaoning area, north China. Kexue Tongbao 32:1712–1714

    Google Scholar 

  • Yang Y, Fu DZ, Wen LH (2000) On double fertilization in Ephedra. Adv Plant Sci 3:67–74

    Google Scholar 

  • Zavada MS (1984) Angiosperm origins and evolution based on dispersed fossil pollen ultrastructure. Ann Miss Bot Gard 71:444–463

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zavada MS (2007) The identification of fossil angiosperm pollen and its bearing on the time and place of the origin of angiosperms. Plant Syst Evol 263:117–134

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This is a summary of several works that I have been involved in. These works have taken more than a decade to complete. During this period, I have received help and support from colleagues too many to enumerate here. I would like to extend my thanks to them all for their friendship, constructive suggestions and advices. This research is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China Programs (No. 40772006, 40372008, 40632010, and J0630967) and SRF for ROCS, SEM. This is a contribution to IGCP 506.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, 39 Beijing Dong Road, Nanjing, 210008, China

    Xin Wang

  2. Fairylake Botanical Garden, 160 Xianhu Road, Shenzhen, 518004, China

    Xin Wang

Authors
  1. Xin Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Xin Wang .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. CNRS UMR 6632, Université d'Aix-Marseille, place Victor Hugo 3, Marseille CX 03, 13331, France

    Pierre Pontarotti

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2009 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Wang, X. (2009). New Fossils and New Hope for the Origin of Angiosperms. In: Pontarotti, P. (eds) Evolutionary Biology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-00952-5_3

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation