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. 2000 Jun 20;97(13):7030-6.
doi: 10.1073/pnas.97.13.7030.

Toward a new synthesis: major evolutionary trends in the angiosperm fossil record

D Dilcher  1
Affiliations

Toward a new synthesis: major evolutionary trends in the angiosperm fossil record

D Dilcher. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. .

Abstract

Angiosperm paleobotany has widened its horizons, incorporated new techniques, developed new databases, and accepted new questions that can now focus on the evolution of the group. The fossil record of early flowering plants is now playing an active role in addressing questions of angiosperm phylogeny, angiosperm origins, and angiosperm radiations. Three basic nodes of angiosperm radiations are identified: (i) the closed carpel and showy radially symmetrical flower, (ii) the bilateral flower, and (iii) fleshy fruits and nutritious nuts and seeds. These are all coevolutionary events and spread out through time during angiosperm evolution. The proposal is made that the genetics of the angiosperms pressured the evolution of the group toward reproductive systems that favored outcrossing. This resulted in the strongest selection in the angiosperms being directed toward the flower, fruits, and seeds. That is why these organs often provide the best systematic characters for the group.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Selected floras published from the late 1800s to the 1960s, ranging in time from the Lower Cretaceous to the Upper Eocene (–69). The open area represents percent of the species in the flora that were given extant generic names. The shaded area represents the percent of species in the flora that were given fossil generic names based on a modern genus to which they were perceived to be similar. The short fall, less than 100% for each flora, represent genera perceived to be truly extinct.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Representation of the Middle Eocene Clarno Flora from eastern Oregon (4) based on several thousands of fruits and seeds collected over 60 years. The bars represent the percent of the genera identified to angiosperm genera of various degrees of similarity to living genera. Note that less than 30% of the fruits and seeds can be identified with living genera.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Representation of modern vs. fossil taxonomic groups published for the mid-Cretaceous, Dakota Formation, Rose Creek Flora (70). This flora is based on leaves. Note no modern genera identified as opposed to the 60% identified for the same flora illustrated in Fig. 1.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Angiosperm diversity as recognized through Cretaceous time. The solid bars extend from the earliest identified fossils of the clades listed on the right side. Modified from refs. and .
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