Recent attempts to address the long-debated 'origin' of the angiosperms depend on a phylogenetic framework derived from a matrix of taxa versus characters; most assume that empirical rigour is proportional to the size of the matrix. Sequence-based genotypic approaches increase the number of characters (nucleotides and indels) in the matrix but are confined to the highly restricted spectrum of e...

BACKGROUND AND AIMS The mid-Cretaceous is a period of sudden turnover from gymnosperm to angiosperm-dominated floras. The aim was to investigate the fossil plant ecology in order to follow the spread of angiosperm taxa. METHODS Floristic lists and localities from the latest Albian-Cenomanian of Europe are analysed with Wagner's Parsimony Method, a clustering method currently used in phylogeny...

Abstract In this review, we explore the origin of rudimentary embryo, its relationship to other kinds plant embryos and role in diversification angiosperms. Rudimentary have a length:width ratio ≤2.0, they organs, including cotyledon(s) primary root. A literature survey failed reveal pre-angiosperms, suggesting that kind embryo is an angiosperm invention. Although proembryos some gymnosperms an...