Flower power
an "abominable mystery"
135 millions years ago, a new group of plants emerged : the angiosperms or flowering plants. The remarkable success of these novel life forms remains a total mystery, which Charles Darwin himself had characterised as "abominable" in 1879.
At that time, landscapes were dominated by mosses, ferns, and conifers. Their reproduction depended on wind and water to disperse spores and seeds. Then, 135 million years ago, the appearance of flowers and fruits coloured these landscapes: it was the revolution of flowering plants, which, thanks to insects, went over to more efficient pollination. In 30 million years, they took over, representing 40% of plant families. Other plants disappeared or were confined to environments less favorable to insects, such as mountains.
The exact reasons for this dazzling success remain mysterious. Although insect pollination is more precise, it requires a large expenditure of energy from plants, particularly to produce nectar and attract pollinators.
Did you know?
The oldest known flowering plants are believed to be 160 million years old. Their fossils were discovered in the Chinese province of Liaoning.
Informations complémentaires
