Ploufolia facts for kids

Ploufolia was an ancient plant that lived a very long time ago. It is now extinct, meaning it no longer exists on Earth. This plant belonged to a group called Nymphaeales, which includes modern-day water lilies. Scientists discovered Ploufolia in Spain.

What Was Ploufolia?

Ploufolia is a special type of plant known as a genus. Think of a genus as a family group for plants. Within this genus, scientists have found one specific kind of plant called Ploufolia cerciforme. This plant was an angiosperm, which means it was a flowering plant. Angiosperms are the most common type of plant on Earth today.

When and Where Did Ploufolia Live?

Ploufolia lived during a time called the Albian period. This period was part of the Cretaceous Period, which was the last part of the age of dinosaurs. The Albian period happened about 100 to 113 million years ago! That's a really long time before humans existed.

This ancient plant grew in what is now northeastern Spain. Specifically, its fossil was found near a town called Plou in the Teruel Province. The name Ploufolia actually comes from this town where it was discovered.

How Was Ploufolia Discovered?

The only known fossil of Ploufolia cerciforme was found in 2010. It was discovered in a place called the Utrillas Formation. A "formation" is a specific layer of rock that geologists study. These rock layers often hold clues about Earth's past, like fossils of ancient plants and animals.

Finding fossils like Ploufolia helps scientists learn about what the world was like millions of years ago. It tells us about the types of plants that grew and the environments they lived in. This discovery helps us understand the history of flowering plants on our planet.