Scientists have found a 47-million-year-old plant fossil in Utah that’s unlike anything seen before. The specimen doesn’t match any of the over 400 known plant families, either living or extinct. “This fossil is rare in having the twig with attached fruits and leaves. Usually those are found separately,” explains Steven Manchester from the Florida Museum of Natural History, who led this groundbreaking research. The plant, named Othniophyton elongatum (meaning “alien plant”), shows unique characteristics unseen in other plants. Most notably, it keeps its male reproductive parts (stamens) attached long after producing fruit – a feature not found in any known … Continue reading 47-Million-Year-Old ‘Alien Plant’ Fossil in Utah Defies Classification, Puzzles Scientists