Researchers have discovered a new fossilized winged seed, Alasemenia, from the Late Devonian epoch (360–385 million years ago), making it one of the earliest known examples of this seed type. This finding sheds light on the evolution of wind dispersal mechanisms in plants. The study, published in eLife, demonstrates that Alasemenia’s three-winged seeds are more effective for wind dispersal compared to one, two, or four-winged seeds. Wind dispersal enables plants to spread their seeds over distances, reducing resource competition and enhancing survival prospects. Most fossils from this era tend to have protective cupules surrounding seeds, suggesting alternative dispersal methods like water transport. However, Alasemenia is notable for lacking this structure, marking it as one of the earliest records of a seed without a cupule. The seeds measure 25–33 mm and feature a distinct integument layer that extends into three wing-like lobes, optimizing wind catching. The study compares Alasemenia with other Late Devonian seeds, concluding that the three-winged design allows for a stable descent and effective wind transport, leading to the hypothesis that winged seeds evolved as a primary dispersal strategy before others like parachutes or plumes emerged.
