investigator from Oregon State University ( OSU ) have discovered a dazzling blossom lock in Burmese gold , which dates back to the mid - Cretaceous . The flower has remained frozen in time for around 100 million years and is the first of its genus and species to be recognized by science . Its discovery was published in the diary of theBotanical Research Institute of Texasby investigator from OSU and the U.S. Department of Agriculture who named the novel flowerValviloculus pleristaminis .
The flower is a member of the angiosperms , a group of plants that reproduce via the unification of a sperm with an egg that develop from the ovule and the ovary respectively . The ovule develops into a seed and the ovary into a fruit . They have roots , stems , leaf , and a bloom which is where the eggs develop . There have been several angiosperm describe by specimens engage inBurmese gold , this Modern species being on the small side with a prime breadth of just two millimeters ( 0.08 inches ) . Despite its modest size , it has an stupefying 50 stamens in its efflorescence which are in a volute organisation with anthers ( which produce pollen ) pointing to the sky .
" This is n’t quite a Christmas flower , but it is a mantrap , peculiarly look at it was part of a forest that existed 100 million year ago , " said prof and amber specimen expertGeorge Poinar Junior . from the OSU College of Science in astatement . " Despite being so pocket-sized , the detail still remain is amazing . Our specimen was belike part of a cluster on the works that contained many similar blossom , some possibly distaff . "
The lilliputian newfangled flower has answered big questions about the Earth which have long been debate by geologists . It was first encase in amber back when the supercontinent Gondwana was intact , but a segment of it ( have it away as the West Burma Block ) transgress off and drifted 6437 kilometers ( 4,000 miles ) towards what is now known as Southeast Asia . Exactly when this segment break off was the cause of argument , with some thought process it was around 200 million long time ago while others say 500 million old age ago .
It ’s widely accepted that angiosperm , such as this flower , first evolved and broaden about 100 million year ago , which recount us that the West Burma Block could n’t have break off from Gondwana this fourth dimension . Poinar states that this proves the escort of its going from the super - continent must be much subsequently than the current estimates intimate by geologist .
