Abstract

The origin of angiosperms has been a focus of botanical research. Although macrofossils and microfossils have suggested that angiosperms may have earlier occurrence, there are some scholars reluctant to accept these fossil records and their implications. To resolve this conflict studying more fossils using new technology is helpful. Obvious differences exist between pollen of seed plants and spore of ferns. Applying the MFCFM technology, here we report a half pollen grain with a mosaic combination of fluorescent spectral features of angiosperms and ferns from the Jurassic of China. Although the mother plant is still mysterious, the features of this fossil pollen grain apparently demands a new thinking on pollen and its evolution.