Fossil plant remains unearth near the now-abandone town of Rainbow, Utah, have defied classification. The plant, name as Othniophyton elongatum, was initially discover in 1969, but recent analysis has shown it is unrelate to any known plant families, living or extinct.
The fossil, dating back around 47 million years, was preserve in the Green River Formation, a region noted for its well-preserve ancient flora and fauna.
The article was publish in the journal Annals of Botany.
As per reports, researchers, led by Steven Manchester, curator of palaeobotany at the Florida Museum of Natural History, examine a more complete specimen discover in the University of California, Berkeley’s palaeobotany collection.
This specimen, featuring leaves, flowers and fruits, provide additional details that contradict the earlier theory linking the plant to the ginseng family.
Steven Manchester told that the detail structures of the fruits and flowers show traits that have not find in any modern or extinct plant family.
As per reports, the study reveal unique characteristics, including stamens that remaine attach to the fruit even after fertilisation, a feature not observe in any other known species.
Microscopy and artificial intelligence technology allow researchers to identify micro-impressions of seeds and developing reproductive structures, adding further depth to the analysis.
Despite thorough comparisons, the researchers can not match the fossil to any of the over 400 families of flowering plants.
Attempts to associate it with extinct plant groups also proved unsuccessful, as per report.
The Green River Formation, known for its rich deposits of lake sediment and volcanic ash, has previously yield other enigmatic fossils, such as Bonanzacarpum fruit and Palibinia leaves.
These findings have led to the identification of extinct groups, yet Othniophyton elongatum continues to challenge classification efforts.
As per sources, the findings highlight the complexity of ancient ecosystems and suggest that the fossil record still holds many untold stories of plant evolution.
