Trovato un fiore sbocciato nell'epoca dei dinosauri. Si è conservato nell'ambra per 100 milioni di anni e la sua pianta faceva parte di una famiglia simile a quella dell'attuale alloro.
La scoperta si deve ai ricercatori coordinati da George Poinar, dell'americana Oregon State University. Poinar è considerato uno dei maggiori esperti di insetti e piante conservate nell'ambra. Ne ha studiati tantissimi, scoprendo nuove specie e rendendo popolari, con le sue ricerche, il fenomeno degli insetti preistorici e dei nematodi intrappolati nella resina degli alberi. Idee che hanno preso il volo anche nella fantasia di Jurassic Park.
Il fiore è stato chiamato Valviloculus pleristaminis. "E' una bellezza, soprattutto considerando che faceva parte di una foresta che esisteva 100 milioni di anni fa", rileva Poinar.
Il fiore è stato scoperto nell'ambra trovata in una miniera del Myanmar, dove si è conservato nei depositi sedimentari marini risalenti alla metà del Cretaceo, circa 99 milioni di anni fa.
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