Ancient Botanical Discovery: 87-Million-Year-Old Flowering Plant Fossils Unearthed in Portugal

In January 2026, a team of Portuguese researchers unveiled a remarkable paleontological find: exceptionally well-preserved fruits from a flowering plant dating back approximately 87 million years. These specimens originate from the Late Coniacian stage of the Cretaceous period, providing a rare window into the deep past. The fossils were recovered from geological deposits located near Seadouro, within the Vagos municipality of the Aveiro district. This discovery represents a major milestone in documenting the evolutionary trajectory of angiosperms across the prehistoric Iberian Peninsula, offering new insights into how these plants diversified during a critical era of Earth's history.

Scientific classification has placed these ancient fossils within the genus Endressianthus, which belongs to the order Fagales. The specimens exhibit vital morphological characteristics, including what appear to be staminal filaments and a gynoecium, alongside the presence of Normapolles-type pollen grains. This evidence definitively establishes that this specific group of angiosperms was a well-integrated component of the Portuguese flora by the end of the Coniacian. This find builds upon previous research in the Mira and Esgueira regions, where the genus Endressianthus—specifically the species Endressianthus miraensis and Endressianthus foveocarpus—was first identified through reproductive structures associated with Normapolles pollen.

Detailed morphological assessments conducted via scanning electron microscopy have shed light on the intricate structure of these ancient blooms. The analysis revealed that the pistillate flowers possessed an inferior ovary and minute, needle-like perianths, while the gynoecium was characterized as being both bicarpellate and syncarpous. Furthermore, the identification of Normapolles pollen strongly suggests that these plants were adapted to wind pollination, a common trait for flora inhabiting the arid or semi-arid ecosystems of the Late Cretaceous. The male flowers of the Endressianthus genus also display distinctive features, such as stamens with short filaments and elongated tetrasporangiate anthers, which are diagnostic for this botanical group and help distinguish it from other contemporaneous species.

While the newly discovered species shares certain structural similarities with the modern Betulaceae family, its precise taxonomic placement within the Fagales order remains a topic of active academic discussion. Although the presence of Normapolles-type pollen creates a clear link to the Fagales, comparisons with other Portuguese fossils, such as Normanthus miraensis, indicate that these primitive flowering plants do not always align perfectly with extant modern families. The study of Early Cretaceous flora, including the genus Saportanthus, further highlights the intricate nature of early angiosperm diversification. When viewed alongside other Normapolles-related finds, such as the genus Walbeckia in Central Europe, the morphological diversity of this group becomes evident, emphasizing the necessity of meticulous analysis for every new specimen like those found in Vagos to understand the broader evolutionary landscape.

Ultimately, the discovery in the Vagos municipality offers scientists invaluable direct evidence regarding the reproductive structures of ancient plants. It reinforces the understanding of the complex and firmly established role that angiosperms played within the Mesozoic ecosystems of Portugal. By providing such high-quality fossil material, researchers can better map the transition of flowering plants from their early origins to the diverse botanical world we see today. This find not only enriches the local paleontological record but also contributes to a global understanding of how flowering plants came to dominate terrestrial environments.