Callovian Stage

Age of the First Flowering Plant?

The Callovian Age (166–164 Ma) is in the Middle Jurassic Epoch of the Jurassic Period of the Mesozoic Era. It occurs after the Bathonian, and before the Oxfordian Age (Late Jurassic).

Geologic Age

  • 166.1±1.2–163.5±1.0 Ma

Eon / Era / Period / Epoch

What happened during this time?

  • Florigerminis jurassica †, a possible angiosperm is found from the Jiulongshan Formation, Inner Mongolia, China

    • Flower, fruit, and flower bud are exhibited on a woody stem

    • If this fossil is confirmed as an angiosperm, this would be the earliest known flowering plant

  • Origin of the pterodactyloids (LiveScience)

Above: Florigerminis jurassica, showing flower bud, flower and fruit

Above: Nilssoniopteris of the order Bennettitales