Answers (2)
Pompi Bhadra 23rd Apr, 2020
Hello Maduria!
There have been several speculations about the origin of flowering plants. But if you look at the evolutionary origin of Angiospermae (flowering plants), a new research study carried forward by the University of Zurich suggests that flowering plants evolved from extinct plants related to cycads, conifers, seed ferns and ginkgos . There are evidences which reveal that pollen grains are the oldest known fossils from flowering plants and these well-preserved 240 million years old pollen grains show that flowering plants might have evolved 100 million years earlier than previously thought, which indicates its origin from these extinct plant species.
With high resolution 3-D images of pollen structure obtained by Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy, suggestions have been made that the plants were pollinated by insects: most likely beetles. And this is another supporting evidence provided by the study.

For reference purpose, you can check out the respective article in the journal below :

-Peter A. Hochuli and Susanne Feist-Burkhardt. Angiosperm-like pollen and Afropollis from the Middle Triassic (Anisian) of the Germanic Basin (Northern Switzerland). Frontiers in Plant Science , 2013
DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2013.00344

Hope this answer will help you.
Hrisheekesh Singh 23rd Apr, 2020

Hi Maduria,

The flowering plant also known as, Angiosperms, Angiospermae or Magnoliophyta and have originated from Rhynia like plants. These are different from gymnosperms in term of flower, endosperms within the seeds, and the production of fruits that contain the seeds.

Feel free to ask doubts in the Comment Section.

I hope this information helps you.

Good Luck!


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