| Archaeanthus | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Magnoliids |
| Order: | Magnoliales |
| Family: | Magnoliaceae |
| Genus: | † Archaeanthus Dilcher & Crane |
| Species: | †A. linnenbergeri |
| Binomial name | |
| †Archaeanthus linnenbergeri Dilcher & Crane | |
Archaeanthus is an extinct genus of flowering plants known from the Cretaceous of North America. [1] It was a member of the Magnoliaceae family. The fossil evidence includes multifollicular fruits, perianth parts, floral bud scales, and leaves, all suggesting it belonged to a plant with large, insect-pollinated flowers resembling magnolias. The structure of Archaeanthus demonstrates that several floral traits considered "basal" among angiosperms—such as helically arranged floral organs and numerous ovules—were already present by the mid-Cretaceous, supporting the magnoliid hypothesis of early flower evolution. [1] There is some debate regarding its exact placement within the Magnoliaceae family with some suggesting it could be a relative of Tulip trees. [1] [2] [3]