Fossil Conifer Seeds and Experimental Models (IMAGE)

University of California - Berkeley

Fossil Conifer Seeds and Experimental Models

Caption

These 270-million-year-old fossils from Texas (top) show that early conifers produced a variety of winged seeds to aid dispersal by the wind. Cindy Looy and her team made identical models (bottom) to test their effectiveness at seed dispersal and to find out why only one variety of whirling seed -- ones with single wings (left) -- exists in today's conifers.

Credit

Cindy Looy images.

Usage Restrictions

None

License

Licensed content

Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.