Fossils reveal strange “alien plant” unlike any we know

A new analysis of specimens found in 1969 in Utah reveals that the plants were wrongly classified and that, after all, they belong to an extinct species.

A plant that lived 47 million years in the current state of Utah has left scientists perplexed with its unique characteristics, unlike anything currently found on Earth.

Fossil discoveries have revealed that the newly identified species, Othniophyton elongatum, belongs to a extinct plant familychallenging long-held assumptions about the evolutionary history of flowering plants.

Initially discovered in 1969 in the Green River Formation of Utah—a treasure trove of Eocene-era fossils—these specimens were misclassified as part of the ginseng family (Araliaceae) due to the leaves’ apparent similarity to certain modern plants.

Called Oreopanax elongatum, it was believed to belong to the genus Oreopanax, which includes shrubs such as ginseng and ivy. This classification was maintained until recently, when a new fossil discovery revealed more about the mysterious plant.

The discovery came with the discovery of another set of fossils from the same time, this time containing branches with leaves and fruits attached. Paleobotanist Steven Manchester of the Florida Museum of Natural History and his team performed an in-depth examination using advanced microscopy. This technology allowed them to analyze the details of the plant, including its seeds, flowers and unique reproductive structures.

The study revealed that Othniophyton elongatum had no resemblance with Oreopanax or any other modern flowering plant. Its leaves were directly connected to the branch rather than being compound, as initially thought. Furthermore, the plant’s stamens – a key part of its reproductive system – remained intact in the fruit, an unusual feature not seen in any modern species, reports the .

Despite extensive comparisons with modern plants and other fossils from the Cenozoic era, researchers have been unable to find a close relative for this enigmatic species. This fact led to the conclusion that Othniophyton elongatum belonged to an extinct family of plants. Its name, derived from the Greek meaning “elongated alien plant”, reflects its uniqueness.

The findings, in the journal Annals of Botany, underscore the complexity of plant evolution and offer a new perspective on how species adapt – or fail to adapt – to changing environments over millions of years.