biostudies-literatureChen LJChinese Academy of SciencesNational Natural Science Foundation of China1598https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC9687830biostudies-literatureUnknown11(11)<h4>Background</h4>Although various angiosperms (including their flowers) have been reported from the Yixian Formation (Lower Cretaceous) of China, which is famous worldwide for its fossils of early angiosperms, no flower bud has hitherto been seen in the Early Cretaceous. Such a lack of examples hinders our understanding of the evolution of flowers.<h4>Methods</h4>The specimen studied in the present paper was collected from an outcrop of the Yixian Formation (the Barremian-Aptian, Lower Cretaceous) of Dawangzhangzi in Lingyuan, Liaoning, China. The specimen was photographed using a Nikon D200 digital camera, its details were observed and photographed using a Nikon SMZ1500 stereomicroscope, and some of its details were observed using a Leo 1530 VP SEM.<h4>Results</h4>We report a fossilizedBiologyA Flower Bud from the Lower Cretaceous of China.PMC9687830XDB2600000042288201, 41688103, 91514302Chen LJWang XfalseA Flower Bud from the Lower Cretaceous of China.<h4>Background</h4>Although various angiosperms (including their flowers) have been reported from the Yixian Formation (Lower Cretaceous) of China, which is famous worldwide for its fossils of early angiosperms, no flower bud has hitherto been seen in the Early Cretaceous. Such a lack of examples hinders our understanding of the evolution of flowers.<h4>Methods</h4>The specimen studied in the present paper was collected from an outcrop of the Yixian Formation (the Barremian-Aptian, Lower Cretaceous) of Dawangzhangzi in Lingyuan, Liaoning, China. The specimen was photographed using a Nikon D200 digital camera, its details were observed and photographed using a Nikon SMZ1500 stereomicroscope, and some of its details were observed using a Leo 1530 VP SEM.<h4>Results</h4>We report a fossilized2022-01-01T00:00:00Z2022 Nov2025-04-05T10:57:46.508Z2025-04-05T10:57:46.508ZS-EPMC96878303635829910.3390/biology11111598