Overview

• Researchers from 138 organizations collaborated to create a detailed phylogenetic tree for flowering plants, covering 64 orders and 416 families.
• The study, published in Nature, utilized ancient and modern DNA to trace the evolutionary history of angiosperms, dating back 140 million years.
• Heidelberg University contributed significantly, utilizing their extensive botanical collections and research on cruciferous plants.
• The 'Tree of Life' project aims to refine plant classification, discover new medicinal compounds, and aid conservation efforts amid climate change.
• This comprehensive genetic analysis provides new perspectives on the dominance and diversification of flowering plants on Earth.