This research aims at clarifying aspects of origin and early evolution of angiosperms through the study of exquisitely preserved fossil floral structures from Cretaceous strata. The study includes descriptions and analyses of systematic affinities of the fossil material, as well as analyses of timing of major events in the evolution of the flowers and flowering plant reproductive biology.During the last few years the discovery of beautifully preserved fossil flowers and dispersed fruits, seeds, and stamens has provided an invaluable source to study organisation and reproductive biology of early angiosperms. These early fossils are often preserved as charcoalifications formed from vegetation fires. The flowers may have all their parts preserved, and pollen grains are frequently discovered in stamens or on fruits providing an important link to the dispersed pollen flora. The core of our studies is material collected from Late Cretaceous (Santonian/Campanian) of Scania, southern Sweden, and a number of Early to Late Cretaceous floras collected in North America and Portugal. Further, investigations of Early and mid-Cretaceous floras from Germany, Kazakhstan, China and Japan, are carried out in collaboration with other research groups.Coworkers: Kaj Raunsgaard Pedersen, Aarhus Peter R. Crane, London Jürg Schönenberger, Zürich Peter K. Endress, Zürich Maria von Balthazar, Sweden Zhou Zhonghe, Beijing Leng Qin, Nanjing
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