Archaefructus eoflora

Archaefructus eoflora is an extinct species of aquatic flowering plant, or angiosperm, that lived in northeastern China during the Early Cretaceous Epoch, approximately 125 million years ago.1

While not the oldest known flowering plant, Archaefructus is significant because its fossils are remarkably complete, preserving roots, shoots, leaves, flowers, and seeds. These herbaceous plants were generally less than 50 cm (20 inches) tall. A. eoflora had bisexual flowers, meaning they contained both pollen and ovules. The leaves of Archaefructus had a lacy appearance, characteristic of some modern aquatic plants.1

The interpretation of Archaefructus as a potential ancestor of flowering plants has been debated, with some suggesting it is more closely related to modern water lilies.1