New research suggests that the orchid family first emerged approximately 85 million years ago on the supercontinent Laurasia — meaning they coexisted with dinosaurs. The international study by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, reconstructed the most comprehensive family tree of the orchid family to date.
The results reveal not only the early origin in the northern part of the Earth, but also how orchids later spread globally and established themselves in nearly every habitat. These findings offer valuable insights into evolution and may inform future conservation strategies.
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Botanical study reveals the origin of orchids 85 million years ago
