Description

Tropidogyne pikei
Angiosperm
Cretaceous
Vicinity of Maingkwan, north of Mogaunga, Myanmar (Burma)

4mm angiosperm flower in 17mm Burmite.

Tropidogyne is a genus of five-petal flower tentatively assigned to the family, Cunonciacae, which includes a number of modern woody plants.  The New South Wales Christmas bush, Ceratopetalum gummiferum, is perhaps the most well-known species.  If so, Tropidogyne would be the earliest-known genus of the family.

Here’s a great example of a Cretaceous flower well-centered in an amber piece and identified to species. The flower looked just-picked – still life indeed.