Flowers Modern & Ancient
- By Susan K. Lewis
- Posted 04.17.07
- NOVA
Archaefructus liaoningensis would never have made the cover of Better Homes & Gardens. But this 125 million-year-old plant, discovered in fossil beds in northeastern China, did grace the cover of Science. It's heralded as the earliest known angiosperm, or flowering plant. Here, explore what makes Archaefructus a flowering plant and how it compares to blooming beauties of today.
Credits
Special Thanks
- David Dilcher, University of Florida
Image Credits
- (modern lily)
- Doug Hamilton © NOVA/WGBH Educational Foundation
- (Archaefructus liaoningensis)
- Courtesy of Doug Hamilton
- (Archaefructus sinensis)
- Courtesy David Dilcher and Sun Ge
- (reconstruction of A. sinensis)
- Courtesy K. Simons and D. Dilcher
- (fossil of A. liaoningensis)
- Courtesy Doug Hamilton
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