Angiosperms are by far the most important plant group for human beings, and numerous fossils of early angiosperms have been documented worldwide 1-14. However, the origin of angiosperms remains a focus of debate 15-19, partially due to lack of anatomically preserved fossils of related plant reproductive organs. Here we report a fossil female flower, Xilinia shengliensis gen. et sp. nov, that demonstrates angio-ovuly — the feature characteristic of angiosperms as well as cone-like morphology that is unusual in angiosperms. Its chimeric character assemblage makes Xilinia unique and informative for flower origin and evolution.
