title: A mosaic Lauralean flower from the Early Cretaceous of Myanmar.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The floral history of early angiosperms is far from complete. The fossil discussed here has the potential to expand our knowledge of timing, reproductive biology, and paleobiogeography in early angiosperms.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cutting-edge methodologies in CT scanning in conjunction with tomography software have opened new possibilities for discovering details in amber-preserved fossils that were inaccessible for meaningful study in the past.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The fossil is small and complex, cupulate, with numerous stamens and a suite of characters distributed in the modern families of Laurales. The most parsimonious placement of the fossil based on morphology is as a sister taxon of Atherospermataceae + Gomortega (Gomortegaceae).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This fossil taxon, a Laurasian Lauralean from the mid-Cretaceous, is an important example of fossil Laurales with implications for biogeography and timing in the radiation and extinction in this group.
authors: 412 Mann Library, Plant Biology Section, School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853 USA wlc1@cornell.edu.
authors: William L
authors: WL
authors: Crepet
authors: L. H. Bailey Hortorium, Plant Biology, School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853 USA.
authors: Kevin C
authors: KC
authors: Nixon
authors: Division of Invertebrate Biology, American Museum of Natural History, New York, New York 10024-5192 USA.
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Grimaldi
authors: Biotechnology Center, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853 USA.
authors: Mark
authors: M
authors: Riccio
mesh_terms: D005075:Biological Evolution; D035264:Flowers / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D005580:Fossils / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D019684:Magnoliopsida / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D002052:Myanmar; D010802:Phylogeny; D063148:Plant Dispersal; D012098:Reproduction
keywords: Atherospermataceae; Cretaceous; Gomortegaceae; Lauraceae; Laurales; Monimiaceae; diversification; insect pollination