Earliest floral evidence for the Ebenaceae in Australia
Flowers are seldom preserved in an identifiable condition. The limited knowledge of floral structure of ancient flowering plants makes comparisons with living plants difficult, as floral structure is the basis for classification of the angiosperms. When found, fossil flowers contribute considerably to our understanding of the evolution of flowering plants1–6. The flowers described here were recovered from Upper Eocene deposits near Anglesea, Australia. They are tetramerous, unisexual, male, with 16 stamens and tricolporate pollen. These flowers, and associated ebenaceous leaves, are the oldest known remains of the Ebenaceae from Australia.
Investigations of angiosperms from the Eocene of North America: An aroid inflorescence
Abstract Investigation of two spadix-like fossils from the Middle Eocene Claiborne Formation reveals that they have no subtending spathe and bear helically arranged florets. The florets are perfect and have bilocular anthers and trilocular ovaries with small orbicular stigmas. There is evidence that each floret also has a perianth. Cuticular features of the inflorescence axis and stalk of one of the specimens are preserved and the stomata of the inflorescence axis have paracytic subsidiary cells. The stalk epidermal cells are irregularly polygonal and arranged with no specific orientation. The fine details of the morphology and the cuticular features suggest that they represent a single type of aroid spadix. This is the first report of an early Tertiary spadix to include morphological and cuticular details.
Energy
Energy is often defined as the ability to do work. There are many forms of energy. A few examples include; Gravitational energy, Kinetic energy (energy of motion), Thermal energy (heat energy), Potential energy. Potential energy is the energy something has based on its position in the universe. A stretched elastic band has potential energy. A rock held up in the air has potential energy based on its position.