Amborellales

Seedlings of Amborella trichopoda germinated at the Tasmanian Seed Conservation Centre.Amborella trichopoda is the sole member of the family Amborellaceae and is endemic to New Caledonia. Descended from a very ancient lineage, Amborella is the most primitive, extant, flowering plant known. Seeds kindly donated by the University of Tasmania. Slow and steady germination has been taking place at 27/15C alternating temperature.After being photographed these seedlings were sent for growing on at RBG, Sydney.

Our first germinated seed of Amborella trichopoda. Seed germinated after 126 days of incubation at 27/15C alternating temperature. Amborella is a rare shrub, endemic to New Caledonia.

Longitudinal section of Amborella trichopoda seed. The embryo is visible in the seed at the top of the image.Amborella is a rare shrub, endemic to New Caledonia. It is currently the subject of a lot of scientific research into the origins of flowering plants as it represent the sole member of a very early group of flowering plants.

Wertheim Conservatory, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, USA.