Flowering Plants
14th May 2009

The third of the great ages of plants, the Cenophytic (beginning about 100 million years ago) saw the rise to prominence of the angiosperms (flowering seed plants), examples of which are shown here.

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Beipiaoa spinosa, complete 14 mm spiny fruit of a possible aquatic angiosperm. Early Cretaceous. Yixian, Jinzhou,  Liaoning Province, China.
Beipiaoa spinosa, complete 14 mm spiny fruit of a possible aquatic angiosperm. Early Cretaceous. Yixian, Jinzhou, Liaoning Province, China.
3 mm partially opened Cretaceous flower. Main Khun, Tanai Township, Kachin State, Burma (Myanmar). Cenomanian-Albian, ca 100 Ma.
3 mm partially opened Cretaceous flower. Main Khun, Tanai Township, Kachin State, Burma (Myanmar). Cenomanian-Albian, ca 100 Ma.
Oak flower, 4 mm. Eocene, Baltic.
Oak flower, 4 mm. Eocene, Baltic.
11 mm Baltic amber with 6 mm flower and three collembolans.
11 mm Baltic amber with 6 mm flower and three collembolans.
Persea leaf with flower. Green River Formation. Uinta County, Utah, USA.
Persea leaf with flower. Green River Formation. Uinta County, Utah, USA.
Persea coriacea (Red bay, family Lauraceae) leaf (30 mm) with flower showing stamens (8 mm). Green River Formation. Uinta County, Utah, USA.
Persea coriacea (Red bay, family Lauraceae) leaf (30 mm) with flower showing stamens (8 mm). Green River Formation. Uinta County, Utah, USA.
7 mm flower showing petals and stamens. Green River Formation. Uinta County, Utah, USA.
7 mm flower showing petals and stamens. Green River Formation. Uinta County, Utah, USA.
Fruit of plane tree (family Platanaceae), 20 mm. Green River Formation. Eocene.  Bonanza, Uinta County, Utah, USA.
Fruit of plane tree (family Platanaceae), 20 mm. Green River Formation. Eocene. Bonanza, Uinta County, Utah, USA.
Early Eocene seagrass (50 mm) with prawn, from Monte Bolca, Italy.
Early Eocene seagrass (50 mm) with prawn, from Monte Bolca, Italy.
Nipa burtini (Brogniart), 45 mm fruit of a stemless palm. Ypresian, Lower Eocene, Sheppey, Kent.
Nipa burtini (Brogniart), 45 mm fruit of a stemless palm. Ypresian, Lower Eocene, Sheppey, Kent.
Seeds, 4 mm to 16 mm. Eocene London Clay. Includes Anonaspermum rotundatum Reid & Chandler and small ovoid Brasenia ovula (Brongiart).
Seeds, 4 mm to 16 mm. Eocene London Clay. Includes Anonaspermum rotundatum Reid & Chandler and small ovoid Brasenia ovula (Brongiart).
Sycamore seed, 16 mm long. Muddy Creek Formation. Oligocene. Beaverhead County, Montana, USA.
Sycamore seed, 16 mm long. Muddy Creek Formation. Oligocene. Beaverhead County, Montana, USA.