A new study published in the journal Nature Communications has revealed how the geographic evolution of cycads, a group of plants that have been around for over 250 million years, has changed over time. Using genetic sequencing data from over 300 species of cycads, the research team identified five distinct evolutionary lineages, or clades, that evolved in different places around the world. They found that the five lineages originated in different parts of the world and moved to other regions over time, with some species displaying more localised distributions than others. The findings suggest that the evolution of cycads has been driven by both environmental conditions and human activities, such as the spread of agriculture and horticulture. The research team also found evidence of hybridisation between some of the different lineages, which may have played a role in their evolution. The findings provide new insight into the evolutionary history of cycads and will help researchers better understand the ecology and conservation of these ancient plants.

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source: Phys.org