Is Darwin's ‘Abominable Mystery’ still a mystery today?

摘要: Abstract Darwin described the Cretaceous diversification and subsequent rapid rise of flowering plants (angiosperms) as an “abominable mystery”: how could they have achieved worldwide ecological dominance by early Paleogene times when oldest angiosperm fossils are only in age? However, recent phylogenetic palaeobiogeographical analyses suggested a much earlier, perhaps Triassic origin for stem angiosperms. We suggest that fossil record is accurately reflecting crown angiosperms molecular data suggests occurred Cretaceous–early Palaeogene times, which coincides with similar explosive diversifications other parts terrestrial biota including insects, birds mammals. Early, poorly represented combination taphonomic reasons. conclude reported evidence shows Darwin's “mystery” fact no mystery confirms it merely requires appropriate reading record.