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How did the Bering land connection affect the distribution of Rosaceae plants?

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red garden rose — Rosales Red garden roses (*Rosa* hybrid). Whereas wild roses have only five petals, most hybrid varieties have been bred to produce numerous petals in a wide range of colours.

The Bering land connection, or Beringia, played a significant role in the historical distribution of Rosaceae plants by serving as a bridge between western North America and Asia.1

Beginning near the start of the Paleogene Period, approximately 60 million years ago, this land connection allowed for the migration of various plants between these regions. During this time, a widespread forest existed across North America, Asia, and Europe, facilitating the movement of flora. This historical connectivity explains why some genera and species within the Rosaceae family, such as Waldsteinia fragarioides (barren strawberry) and Physocarpus (ninebark), exhibit discontinuous distribution patterns today, appearing in widely separated geographic areas.1

As global climates changed and glaciers advanced over the Northern Hemisphere, many of these broadly distributed plants were eliminated from certain areas, leaving them to persist only as relicts in others. Consequently, while the Bering land bridge was a vital corridor for early migration, subsequent environmental shifts and glaciation were the primary drivers in shaping the modern, fragmented ranges of many Rosaceae species.1