Why do molecular studies reject the idea that flowering plants evolved directly from gnetophytes?

The hypothesis that flowering plants evolved directly from gnetophytes was historically based on shared morphological traits, such as the presence of vessels in the xylem and the compound nature of their reproductive strobili, which some researchers likened to flowers.1

However, modern molecular research—specifically studies comparing various gene sequences in DNA—has rejected this evolutionary link. These genetic analyses demonstrate that while gnetophytes and angiosperms may share certain superficial characteristics, they do not share a direct ancestor-descendant relationship. Consequently, the scientific consensus now places gnetophytes within their own distinct group, recognizing that the similarities observed are likely the result of convergent evolution rather than a direct evolutionary lineage.1