New scanning electron microscope (SEM) and light microscope data and illustrations are presented in order to compare hydraulic adaptations of non-gnetalean conifers and angiosperms to relevant wood features of Gnetales. Gnetales have essentially all of the adaptations of both groups, yet have not competed well, despite predating angiosperms in origin and radiation. Angiosperms may be advantaged...

Dating analyses based on molecular data imply that crown angiosperms existed in the Triassic, long before their undisputed appearance in the fossil record in the Early Cretaceous. Following a re-analysis of the age of angiosperms using updated sequences and fossil calibrations, we use a series of simulations to explore the possibility that the older age estimates are a consequence of (i) major ...

Abstract Angiosperms may be distinguished from their gymnosperm peers by flowers, and thus a flower is good proxy of fossil angiosperms. However, flowers parts are usually too frail to preserved in the record. This makes origin angiosperms foci controversy botany. Eliminating such botanical controversies can only achieved studying related plant fossils. Applying routine scanning electron micros...

Through multifaceted genome-scale research involving phylogenomics, targeted gene surveys, and gene expression analyses in diverse basal lineages of angiosperms, our studies provide insights into the most recent common ancestor of all extant flowering plants. MADS-box gene duplications have played an important role in the origin and diversification of angiosperms. Furthermore, early angiosperms...

Angiosperm and conifer tree species respond differently when exposed to elevated CO2, with angiosperms found to dynamically reduce water loss while conifers appear insensitive. Such distinct responses are likely to affect competition between these tree groups as atmospheric CO2 concentration rises. Seeking the mechanism behind this globally important phenomenon we targeted the Ca(2+)-dependent ...

New work suggests ‘subgenome dominance' in polyploids may only occur angiosperms. Subgenome dominance could explain angiosperm-specific genome reduction, with potential implications for angiosperms' global dominance. I suggest that evolution of the endosperm have selected subgenome dominance, due to increased hybrid/polyploid incompatibilities and/or through direct reciprocal suppression matern...