A cone-like flower from the Lower Cretaceous of China

Abstract

Angiosperms are by far the most important plant group for human beings, and numerous fossils of early angiosperms have been documented worldwide 1-14. However, the origin of angiosperms remains a focus of debate 15-19, partially due to lack of anatomically preserved fossils of related plant reproductive organs. Here we report a fossil female flower, Xilinia shengliensis gen. et sp. nov, that demonstrates angio-ovuly — the feature characteristic of angiosperms as well as cone-like morphology that is unusual in angiosperms. Its chimeric character assemblage makes Xilinia unique and informative for flower origin and evolution.