Nearly 130 Million-Year-Old Mythical Flower May be the First One on Earth

First Posted: Aug 18, 2015 06:48 AM EDT

Scientists have discovered a 125 million to 130 million-year-old freshwater plant that may be one of the first flowers on the planet. The plant actually represents a major change in the presumed force of one of the planet's earliest flowers.

"This discovery raises significant questions about the early evolutionary history of flowering plants, as well as the role of these plants in the evolution of other planet and animal life," said David Dilcher, one of the researchers, in a news release.

The aquatic plant has been named Montsechia vidali. It once grew in freshwater lakes in what are now the mountainous regions of Spain.

"A 'first flower' is technically a myth like the 'first human,'" said Dilcher. "But based on this new analysis, we know that Montsechia is contemporaneous, if not more ancient, than Archaefructus. Monsechia possesses no obvious 'flower parts,' such as petals or nectar-producing structures for attracting insects, and lives out its entire life cycle under water. The fruit contains a single seed, which is borne upside down."

Montsechia actually resembles its most modern descendent, which was identified as Ceratophyllum. Also known as coontails and hornwarts, Ceratophyllum is a dark gree aquatic plant whose coarse, tufty leaves makes it a popular decoration in modern aquariums.

Now, researchers want to understand more about the species connecting Ceratophyllum to its ancient ancestor.

"There's still much to be discovered about how a few very early species of seed-bearing plants eventually gave rise to the enormous, and beautiful, variety of flowers that no populate nearly ever environment on Earth," said Dilcher.

The findings are published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

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TagsFossil, fossils, Plants, Flower, Evolution, History