This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-33969640

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Ancient underwater plant 'could be world's first flower' Ancient underwater plant 'could be world's first flower'
(4 days later)
Botanists in the US say an ancient plant that grew underwater in what is modern day Europe may have been the world's first known flowering plant.Botanists in the US say an ancient plant that grew underwater in what is modern day Europe may have been the world's first known flowering plant.
Researchers studied more than 1,000 fossils of the Montsechia Vidalii species as part of the study. Researchers studied more than 1,000 fossils of the Montsechia vidalii species as part of the study.
The plant resembled a pond-weed but bore fruit containing a single seed - the defining characteristic of a flowering plant.The plant resembled a pond-weed but bore fruit containing a single seed - the defining characteristic of a flowering plant.
The scientists say it grew in Spanish lakes more than 125 million years ago.The scientists say it grew in Spanish lakes more than 125 million years ago.
"A 'first flower' is technically a myth, like the 'first human'," botanist David Dilcher says in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences."A 'first flower' is technically a myth, like the 'first human'," botanist David Dilcher says in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
"But based on this new analysis, we know now that Montsechia is contemporaneous, if not more ancient, than Archaefructus," a similar aquatic plant found in China."But based on this new analysis, we know now that Montsechia is contemporaneous, if not more ancient, than Archaefructus," a similar aquatic plant found in China.
Scientists have known about the Montsechia Vidalii species for a long time. Scientists have known about the Montsechia vidalii species for a long time.
Its fossils were first discovered more than a century ago in the limestone deposits of the Iberian Range in central Spain and in the Montsec Range of the Pyrenees.Its fossils were first discovered more than a century ago in the limestone deposits of the Iberian Range in central Spain and in the Montsec Range of the Pyrenees.
But Mr Dilcher said many of the fossils were misinterpreted, because Montsechia "possesses no obvious 'flower parts' such as petals or nectar-producing structures for attracting insects".But Mr Dilcher said many of the fossils were misinterpreted, because Montsechia "possesses no obvious 'flower parts' such as petals or nectar-producing structures for attracting insects".