Rise of the Flowering Plants

145–66 million years ago (Late CretaceousEarly Cretaceous )

Lecture Resources

Session 6 Notes

What was the Earth like during this period?

What is an angiosperm (flowering plant)?

Above: Modern magnolia tree in flower

So what is a flower? 

How does a flower differ from other flower-like plants? 

What happens after fertilization? 

Above: squash flowers into squash fruits

What are the oldest known angiosperms?

Above: A fossil of Archaefructus from the Cretaceous Period.

Why do flowering plants dominate today?

What was the Earth like before this time?