Hapollisissa

Hapollisissa is a genus of extinct flowering plants that lived during the Early Cretaceous period, approximately 125 million years ago. The genus is known from a single species, Hapollisissa cretacea, which was discovered in the Yixian Formation of northeastern China. Hapollisissa is notable for its unique floral structure, which is unlike any other known flowering plant.

The flowers of Hapollisissa are characterized by their large size and complex structure. They are composed of numerous small, cup-shaped flowers that are arranged in a spiral pattern around a central axis. Each individual flower is about 1-2 millimeters in diameter and has a distinctive, star-shaped appearance. The flowers are surrounded by a ring of bracts, which are modified leaves that protect the developing flowers.

The reproductive structures of Hapollisissa are also unique. The flowers contain both male and female reproductive organs, which are arranged in a spiral pattern around the central axis. This arrangement is unlike any other known flowering plant, which typically have separate male and female flowers.

Hapollisissa is believed to have been a wind-pollinated plant, as its flowers are adapted for pollination by the wind. The large size and complex structure of the flowers may have helped to disperse pollen over long distances.

Hapollisissa is an important fossil because it provides insight into the early evolution of flowering plants. Its unique floral structure and reproductive organs suggest that it may have been an early ancestor of modern flowering plants. Further study of Hapollisissa and related fossils may help to shed light on the origins and evolution of the angiosperms, the group of plants that includes all flowering plants.