Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
An analysis of duplicate phytochrome genes (PHYA and PHYC) is used to root the angiosperms, thereby avoiding the inclusion of highly diverged outgroup sequences. The results unambiguously place the root near Amborella (one species, New Caledonia) and resolve water lilies (Nymphaeales, approximately 70 species, cosmopolitan), followed by Austrobaileya (one species, Australia), as early branches. These findings bear directly on the interpretation of morphological evolution and diversification within angiosperms.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Mathews et al. (1999) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 10 related papers. Consider them for comparative context: