Flowering plants, from corn, wheat, rice, and potatoes to maples, oaks, apples, and cherries… and even corpse flowers and voodoo lilies, are the foundation of Earth’s ecosystems and essential for humanity.
Cherry blossoms attract bees for pollination. (Source: Reuters).
A new study published on April 24 in the journal Nature, based on genetic data from 9,506 species and the examination of 200 fossils, provides the most insightful understanding to date of the evolutionary history of flowering plants, known as angiosperms – the largest and most diverse group of plants. The study details how angiosperms emerged and became dominant during the age of dinosaurs and how they evolved over time.
Scientists discovered a new type of tree of life for angiosperms, covering 15 times more flowering plant species – nearly 60% of them – compared to the nearest comparative study.
William Baker, a botanist at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (RBG Kew) in London and a senior author of the study, stated: “This is a breakthrough in our understanding of plant evolution.”
Gladiolus flowers in a garden in Hyderabad, Southern India. (Source: Reuters).
Angiosperms, the plants that produce flowers and seeds enclosed in fruits, include about 330,000 species and account for approximately 80% of all plants on Earth. They encompass all major food crops, grasses, most broadleaf trees, and most aquatic plants. Their closest relatives are gymnosperms, a group that predates them on Earth, including conifers and several other species, with over 1,000 species.
The study identified two diversification bursts among angiosperms. The first occurred about 150-140 million years ago at the dawn of their existence in the Mesozoic era, with 80% of angiosperm lineages arising during that time. The next burst occurred about 100 million years later in the Cenozoic era, following the extinction of the dinosaurs and the rise of mammalian species, amidst a global temperature decline.
Giant Tecolote Ranunculus flowers at the Flower Fields in Carlsbad, California, USA. (Source: Reuters).
Mr. Baker noted: “Angiosperms are more structurally adaptable, providing advantages over gymnosperms, primarily through features that contribute to reproductive success.”
Gymnosperms and angiosperms both have seeds, but flowering plants have seeds enclosed to protect them from desiccation and help them thrive in various environments, from tropical regions to deserts or Antarctica.
Angiosperms also evolved flowers, a structure that enables them to form relationships with pollinator species, particularly insects, while gymnosperms typically rely on wind for pollination. Angiosperms have developed a high diversity of fruit types, allowing for effective seed dispersal.
“With these innovations, angiosperms have become unbeatable,” Mr. Baker stated.
A field of sunflowers in Lopburi, Thailand. (Source: Reuters).
Flowering plants provide most of the calories consumed by humans from grains, fruits, and vegetables, indirectly feeding livestock. They also captivate people with their beauty, from fields of sunflowers to bouquets of roses, clusters of lilies, and delightful fragrances.
Mr. Baker commented: “They are a source of many medicines and hold potential solutions to global challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, human health, food security, and renewable energy.”
This research could help scientists better understand disease and pest resistance in angiosperms and guide potential new medical applications, such as combating malaria.
Alexandre Zuntini, a botanist at RBG Kew and the lead author of the study, stated: “Integrating the tree of life with extinction risk assessments for each lineage allows us to prioritize conservation efforts based on their uniqueness. This is critically important for humanity, as these lineages may contain chemical compounds or even genes that could be beneficial for our survival.”
