Pine evolved to resist rise of flower power

Read more at Blog about Science at Adelaide

“A new study led by Dr Ed Biffin from the University of Adelaide’s Australian Centre for Evolutionary Biology and Biodiversity, has found the arrival of angiosperms restricted most conifer species to marginal habitats and alpine areas in the northern hemisphere.
However, one distinctively different southern hemisphere family of conifers known as the Podocarpacae (plum pines) was able to adapt.

Swapping needles for flat leaves allowed members of one conifer family to diversify and compete with flowering plants.

By evolving flattened leaves podocarps have become one of the most successful conifer groups. (Source: Bob Hill/University of Adelaide)

To learn a bit more about this new study, read Rachel Sullivan’s ABC’s Science article posted Wed 08.06.11 …”