Fossil of a relative of daisies in Patagonia

2010/11/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Botanika

Some rocks from Patagonia find the fossil of a relative of daisies or solar flowers. Since the rocks in which it has been located were formed 47.5 million years ago (mid-Eocene), researchers have suggested that the plant group mentioned was created about 50 million years ago, probably in southern South America.

Asteraceae is the largest and most varied group of floral plants, with about 23,000 species, including daisies, solar flowers and dandelion. Except in Antarctica, it is present on all continents. But so far there was not enough data to know the origin of the group. Researchers' suspicions about their location in South America have confirmed the discovery of an amateur fossil in 2002. The study was conducted by researchers from the Museum of Natural Sciences of Argentina.

The fossilized plant, very well preserved, has been classified by researchers in the group Asteraceae, after confirming its characteristics. For example, it has flowers grouped in a similar way, some hair-shaped prominences between the flowers and, under the floral set, presents a structure similar to the leaves. In addition, specimens of pollen typical of the group have been found.