Why are there so many plants? New research reveals two key phases in Earth’s past
New research published in Nature Plants suggests that two distinct warm periods in Earth's history were critical for the evolution and diversification of flowering plants. The study analyzed fossilized pollen and spores to better understand how plants came to dominate global ecosystems.
Why it matters
Understanding the historical drivers of plant diversity helps scientists predict how modern ecosystems might respond to current climate change.
Chirag Saini/Unsplash Why are there so many plants? New research reveals two key phases in Earth’s past Published: October 14, 2026 10.11am BST https://theconversation.com/why-are-there-so-many-plants-new-research-reveals-two-key-phases-in-earths-past-293347 https://theconversation.com/why-are-there-so-many-plants-new-research-reveals-two-key-phases-in-earths-past-293347 Link copied Share article Share article
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Plants are crucial for life on land. The energy they capture from the Sun underpins the existence of almost all land-based animals, fungi and bacteria.
In particular, flowering plants – the most productive and diverse group of land plants – dominate most ecosystems on Earth. There are at least 350,000 species , and they’re vital for capturing carbon dioxide from the air.
Over millions of years, flowering plants have evolved complex relationships with animals , fungi and bacteria . This created vast numbers of species, each specialising in eating, pollinating, dispersing seeds and decomposing different plants or in different ways.
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