Icacinaceae fossil provides evidence for a Cretaceous origin of the lamiids

Today the asterids comprise over 80,000 species of flowering plants; however, relatively little is known about the timing of their early diversification. This is particularly true for the diverse lamiid clade, which comprises half of asterid diversity. Here, a lamiid fossil fruit assigned to Icacinaceae from the Campanian of western North America provides important macrofossil evidence indicating that lamiids diverged at least 80 million years ago and sheds light on potential Cretaceous rainforest-like ecosystems. Extant asterids comprise over 80,000 species of flowering plants. A fossil fruit from western North America shows that the lamiid clade of asterids diverged over 80 million years ago.

Automated summary

Today, asterids, a group of flowering plants, consist of over 80,000 species. However, little is known about the early diversification of this group, especially the lamiid clade which constitutes half of the asterid diversity. By studying a fossil fruit from western North America, researchers have discovered evidence suggesting that lamiids diverged at least 80 million years ago, providing insights into potential Cretaceous rainforest-like ecosystems.