A recently discovered plant from the Green River Formation in Utah is rewriting the history of flowering plants on Earth. Othniophyton elongatum, a 47-million-year-old fossil found in 1969, was initially thought to be part of the ginseng family due to its leaves’ structure. However, further analysis has revealed that the entire ginseng family is extinct, and Othniophyton elongatum likely belongs to a now-extinct family.
The discovery challenges the prevailing assumption that all plant fossils from the Cenozoic era are related to living plants today. Paleobotanists had assumed that any plant fossil from this period must be linked to a modern species, but Othniophyton elongatum defies this idea.
A closer examination of the fossil’s leaves and berries revealed that they were not compound leaves, as initially thought. The presence of attached fruits and leaves was also unusual. New microscopy techniques allowed researchers to study the plant in greater detail, including its seeds and flowers.
One striking feature of Othniophyton elongatum is the retention of stamens at maturity, which is rare in fossils. This finding suggests that the plant’s reproductive system may have been more complex than previously thought.
Despite numerous attempts to match it with modern plants, researchers were unable to find any clear similarities or differences. The plant’s characteristics are too unique to be classified within the existing flowering plant orders.
The discovery of Othniophyton elongatum is a significant breakthrough in understanding plant evolution and diversification. It highlights the importance of reevaluating assumptions and biases in scientific research, as well as the need for continued exploration of new fossils to shed light on the natural world.
Source: https://www.sciencealert.com/fossils-reveal-mysterious-alien-plant-is-unlike-any-other-known