Archaeanthus

Archaeanthus is an extinct genus of flowering plants known from the Cretaceous of North America.^[1] It was a member of the Magnoliaceae family. The fossil evidence includes multifollicular fruits, perianth parts, floral bud scales, and leaves, all suggesting it belonged to a plant with large, insect-pollinated flowers resembling magnolias. The structure of Archaeanthus demonstrates that several floral traits considered "basal" among angiosperms—such as helically arranged floral organs and numerous ovules—were already present by the mid-Cretaceous, supporting the magnoliid hypothesis of early flower evolution.^[1] There is some debate regarding its exact placement within the Magnoliaceae family with some suggesting it could be a relative of Tulip trees.^[1][2][3]

Archaeanthus Temporal range: Early Cretaceous to Late Cretaceous (Albian-Cenomanian), 106.3–93.9 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Magnoliids
Order:	Magnoliales
Family:	Magnoliaceae
Genus:	†Archaeanthus Dilcher & Crane
Species:	†A. linnenbergeri
Binomial name
†Archaeanthus linnenbergeri Dilcher & Crane

Distribution

Archaeanthus is known from Kansas.^[1]