An Extinct Transitional Leaf Genus of Nymphaeaceae from the Eocene Lake at Messel, Germany: Nuphaea engelhardtii Gee et David W. Taylor gen. et sp. nov.

Paleontologists have uncovered evidence of an extinct, transitional water lily genus from the Eocene Lake Messel in Germany, providing new insights into the evolutionary history of Nymphaeaceae. The discovery, Nuphaea engelhardtii, bridges morphological gaps between modern genera like Nuphar and Nymphaea, challenging long-held assumptions about the family's diversification over 100 million years. Researchers analyzed 39 fossil leaves using phylogenetic methods, integrating them with living taxa and other fossils to reveal its position within the Nymphaeaceae clade. This study highlights previously unrecognized biodiversity in the family during the Cenozoic era.

Gee, C. T., & Taylor, D. W. (2019). An Extinct Transitional Leaf Genus of Nymphaeaceae from the Eocene Lake at Messel, Germany: Nuphaea engelhardtii Gee et David W. Taylor gen. et sp. nov. International Journal of Plant Sciences, 180(7), 724–736. https://doi.org/10.1086/704376