What evidence from fossils helps scientists study the evolution of the Cyperaceae family?

While fossil sedges have been discovered dating back as early as the Eocene, they currently provide little evidence for studying the evolution of the Cyperaceae family. This is because the available fossil specimens are fragmentary and closely resemble modern groups, offering limited insight into ancestral forms or evolutionary transitions.1

Because the fossil record is not currently useful for interpreting their evolutionary history, scientists primarily derive theories about the evolution of the Cyperaceae from the morphology and development of their spikelets. Researchers analyze how these structures have been reduced or modified over time, such as the transition from bisexual flowers to unisexual flowers, to understand the relationships between different subfamilies.1