Paleontologists find fossil relative of Ginkgo biloba

Oyundelger 2017-03-10 07:03

Art & Culture

The discovery of well-preserved fossil plants by paleontologists has allowed researchers to identify a distant relative of the living plant Ginkgo biloba.

Paleontologists find fossil relative of Ginkgo biloba. The discovery of well-preserved fossil plants by paleontologists from the United States, China, Japan, Russia and Mongolia has allowed researchers to identify a distant relative of the living plant Ginkgo biloba, and in general better understand the evolution and diversity of ancient seed plants. The fossils, from the species Umaltolepis mongoliensis, date back to the early Cretaceous Period or some 100-125 million years ago. The fossils were discovered in ancient peat deposits at the Tevshiin Govi mine in the steppes of central Mongolia. In addition, the researchers collected other fossils from the Tevshiin Govi mine, including seed plants related to modern pines, spruces, swamp cypresses and redwoods.