Dilcher David L, Sun Ge, Ji Qiang, Li Hongqi
Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2007 May 29;104(22):9370-4. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0703497104. Epub 2007 May 22.
The continuing study of early angiosperms from the Yixian Formation (approximately 125 Ma) of northeastern China has yielded a second early angiosperm genus. This report is a detailed account of this early flowering plant and recognizes earlier reports of similar fossils from Russia and China. Entire plants, including roots, stems, and branches terminating in fruits are presented and reconstructed. Evidence for a possible aquatic nature of this plant is presented. The relationship of Hyrcantha ("Sinocarpus") to the eudicots is discussed. The presence of this second early angiosperm genus, now known as a whole plant, is important in the discussion of its systematics and the ecology of the earliest angiosperms.
对中国东北地区义县组（约1.25亿年前）早期被子植物的持续研究发现了第二个早期被子植物属。本报告详细描述了这种早期开花植物，并认可了此前来自俄罗斯和中国的类似化石的报道。展示并重建了包括根、茎以及带有果实的分枝在内的完整植株。文中还给出了这种植物可能具有水生特性的证据。讨论了水蜡果属（“中华果”）与真双子叶植物的关系。这第二个早期被子植物属作为完整植株被发现，对于探讨其系统分类以及最早被子植物的生态具有重要意义。
