Archaefructus--angiosperm precursor or specialized early angiosperm?
With molecular analyses indicating that angiosperms are not closely related to any other extant seed plant group, information from fossils might provide the only basis for reconstructing their origin. Therefore the description of a new Early Cretaceous angiosperm, Archaefructus, placed as the sister of all extant angiosperms, has created much debate and optimism. However, we question both the interpretation and the analysis of Archaefructus, concluding that it might be a crown-group angiosperm specialized for aquatic habit rather than a more primitive relative.
Friis
Else Marie
EM
Department of Palaeobotany, Swedish Museum of Natural History, Box 50007, SE-104 05 Stockholm, Sweden. else.marie.friss@nrm.se
Doyle
James A
JA
Endress
Peter K
PK
Leng
Qin
Q
D005075:Biological Evolution; D002681:China; D005580:Fossils; D019684:Magnoliopsida / Q000145:classification* / Q000502:physiology*; D010802:Phylogeny; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000502:physiology