Indiana University scientist discovered world’s first flower grew 125 million years ago

Indiana University scientist discovered world’s first flower grew 125 million years ago. Alive 125 million years ago, at the same time as the Brachiosaurus dinosaur, the world’s “first” flower has just been discovered.

Montsechia vidalli, a nondescript pond weed, lived its entire life under water in the freshwater lakes of northern and central Spain.

The flower does not have petals or bright colours as you would expect, but instead has fine fibres or leaves.

Resembling that of the common pond weed Ceratophyllum, more commonly known as hornwort or coontail.

Montsechia vidalli  discovered 100 years ago in limestone deposits but it only recently, on closer inspection

It found to potentially older than the aquatic plant Archaefructus sinensis.

Which discovered in China and previously believed to be the oldest flower ever found.

Indiana University scientist discovered world's first flower grew 125 million years ago.

Indiana University scientist discovered world’s first flower grew 125 million years ago.

According to Indiana University’s lead scientist professor, David Dilcher, in research published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

“Based on this new analysis, we know now that Montsechia is contemporaneous, if not more ancient, than Archaefructus.

Scientists discovered world’s first flower grew 125 million years ago.

Despite containing “no obvious flower parts”, the Montsechia vidalli is classified as a flower due to the fact that the fruit contains.

Indiana University scientist discovered world’s first flower grew 125 million years ago.

A single seed which is the defining characteristic of an angiosperm, or flowering plant.

Scientists used individual drops of hydrochloric acid to release stems and leaf structures from the limestone.

And examined them underneath a powerful microscope.

The flower does not have petals or bright colours as you would expect, but instead fine fibres or leaves.

Resembling that of the common pond weed Ceratophyllum, more commonly known as hornwort or coontail.

Montsechia vidalli  discovered 100 years ago in limestone deposits but it  only recently, on closer inspection.

That it found to potentially older than the aquatic plant Archaefructus sinensis.

Which discovered in China and previously believed to the oldest flower ever found.