In a recent groundbreaking discovery, an international collaboration of paleobotanists from China and Germany unearthed a remarkably well-preserved Parrotia flower encapsulated in amber. The specimen, estimated to be 15 million years old, was found in Zhangpu, located in East China’s Fujian Province.
Dr. Shi Gongle, a prominent scientist from the Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology under the China Academy of Sciences (CAS), spearheaded the research initiative. Expressing the significance of the find, Dr. Shi emphasized that this specimen represents the singular instance of a fossilized Parrotia flower known to science.
The team’s comprehensive study, titled “Parrotia Flower Blooming in Miocene Rainforest,” delves deep into the characteristics and historical context of this discovery. The research, which graced the pages of the Journal of Systematics and Evolution, unveiled that the Parrotia specimen was a male flower. Bearing a striking resemblance to its current counterparts, this prehistoric flower had no petals. Instead, it displayed a set of noticeable bracts and showcased 12 stamens, each distinguished by a thin filament and an elongated anther.
An intriguing aspect of this ancient Parrotia flower is its environment. Unlike its present-day descendants that grow in different climatic conditions, this particular Parrotia prospered amidst tropical rainforests around 15 million years ago. Dr. Shi observed, “The presence of Parrotia in these ancient tropical rainforests indicates its once-thriving existence during that era.”
Delving deeper into the history of the Parrotia, the research team analyzed fossilized flora from various parts of the world. Their investigations revealed a fascinating fact: whereas today’s Parrotia occupies fragmented habitats, it enjoyed a vast expanse across Asia and Europe from roughly 23 to 5 million years ago.
This minute, yet significant flower uncloaks a series of environmental transformations that have occurred over millennia. Dr. Shi remarked, “This ancient Parrotia flower offers a unique lens into the environmental factors influencing its proliferation and subsequent decline over time.”
The scientific community values the contributions of renowned paleobotanists, and as a gesture of gratitude and respect, the research team christened this ancient Parrotia species “Parrotia zhiyanii” in homage to Professor Zhou Zhiyan, a distinguished member of CAS, who has made profound contributions to paleobotany.
The Parrotia, a surviving angiosperm from antiquity, is cherished in the botanical realm, often dubbed as a “living fossil.” The modern species, Parrotia subaequalis, found primarily in eastern China, is teetering on the brink of extinction. But, with its breathtaking aesthetics, from its radiant red anthers in spring to its multihued foliage in autumn, Parrotia remains a coveted ornamental tree, gracing many gardens and landscapes with its timeless beauty.
READ MORE: