XVI International Botanical Congess

The early record of angiosperms is full of uncertainty. Plant fragmentary remains and isolated organs of uncertain affinities are reported from Triassic, Jurassic and Lower Cretaceous sediments. When these fossil remains are examined critically, attempting to find characters that define the group, many are only angiosperm-like. Until each report is analyzed objectively for the characters clearly demonstrated by the fossil, we will continue to have a record from which no valid conclusions about the nature of the earliest angiosperms can been drawn. Existing reports indicate that early flowers were small, unisexual or bisexual, and pollinated by wind, water or insects. Pollen, leaves, wood, even petals and bracts are not conclusive proofs of angiosperms. Reports of fruits containing seeds derived from closed carpels are indicative of angiosperms. Character-based documentation is necessary.