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60-Million-Year-Old Grape Seed Fossil Transforms Evolutionary Understanding

5/24/2025

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Summary

Story summary

A remarkable 60-million-year-old grape seed fossil found in Colombia's Andes Mountains is revolutionizing our understanding of grape evolution. Identified as a new species, Lithouva susmanii, this ancient relic connects grapevines to the mass extinction of dinosaurs, a pivotal moment that allowed climbing plants to flourish in lush forests, profoundly shaping plant evolution.

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Story summary

A remarkable 60-million-year-old grape seed fossil found in Colombia's Andes Mountains is revolutionizing our understanding of grape evolution. Identified as a new species, Lithouva susmanii, this ancient relic connects grapevines to the mass extinction of dinosaurs, a pivotal moment that allowed climbing plants to flourish in lush forests, profoundly shaping plant evolution.