[Campbell Biology P.696] Based on the provided text and Figure 30.13, which of the following... | Practice Question

Based on the provided text and Figure 30.13, which of the following statements about Archaefructus sinensis is TRUE?

  • A: It is a modern angiosperm species commonly found in aquatic environments.
  • B: Its fossils, dated to 130 million years ago, represent the earliest distinctive angiosperm pollen.
  • C: It was a herbaceous plant with simple flowers and structures that suggest an aquatic habitat, and it is 125 million years old.
  • D: It represents a gymnosperm ancestor of modern angiosperms, appearing in the Jurassic period.

Explanation

The text describes Archaefructus sinensis as a 125-million-year-old fossil, a herbaceous species with simple flowers and bulbous structures that may have served as floats, suggesting it was aquatic. It is explicitly identified as an "early flowering plant" angiosperm by the figure caption.