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| | Matthews, Merran L.*, Peter K. Endress, Jürg Schönenberger, and Else Marie Friis. (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-31) |
 | | A timely coincidence was the recovery of well preserved fossil flowers from the Late Cretaceous of Sweden by JS and EMF that share many features with both Anisophylleaceae and Cunoniaceae (but have been placed in Cunoniaceae based on some specific traits of the gynoecium). |
 | | Combined, these results suggest either that Anisophylleaceae and Cunoniaceae are more closely related than previously assumed, or if not, that they exhibit either an unusual number of symplesiomorphic features of basal rosids, or that their floral features are the result of a striking convergent evolution. |
 | | In either case, it is apparent that more extensive molecular studies are needed, and if these studies confirm the current disparate position of the families, an investigation of the significance of the suite of common structural features should be made. |
| www.botany2001.org /section12/abstracts/135.shtml (240 words) |
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