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A large fossil flower in Baltic amber, initially identified as Stewartia, has been reclassified as Symplocos kowalewskii based on pollen analysis. This finding reveals new insights into ancient flora and fossil preservation.

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Area of Science:

  • Paleobotany
  • Palynology
  • Paleontology

Background:

  • Amber fossils provide exceptional preservation of delicate plant organs over millions of years.
  • Floral inclusions in amber are typically small (≤10 mm), making large specimens rare.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To re-evaluate the taxonomic classification of a large fossil flower from Baltic amber.
  • To investigate the paleobotanical significance of exceptionally preserved floral fossils.

Main Methods:

  • Detailed morphological analysis of a large fossil flower inclusion (28 mm) from late Eocene Baltic amber.
  • Pollen analysis of extracted pollen grains from the flower's anthers.

Main Results:

  • The fossil flower, initially described as Stewartia kowalewskii (Theaceae), shows strong affinities to Asian Symplocos species (Symplocaceae) based on pollen analysis.
  • The new combination Symplocos kowalewskii comb. nov. et emend. is proposed.
  • This represents the first record of Symplocaceae in Baltic amber, suggesting connections to East and Southeast Asian forest types.

Conclusions:

  • The study reclassifies a significant fossil flower, expanding our understanding of plant distribution during the Eocene.
  • The rarity of large floral inclusions may be linked to resin outpouring characteristics during fossilization.
  • This finding supports the presence of evergreen broadleaved and mixed mesophytic forest elements in the Baltic amber flora.