But our research, published in Perspectives in Plant Ecology, Evolution and Systematics, shows that the ancestors of banksias actually migrated here from North Africa. We used a DNA assessment of the entire protea family to create an evolutionary tree. This showed that by 120 million years ago, the ancestors of banksias had begun crossing into northeast South America. They could have originated in Antarctica and South America, and possibly even Africa. This north Antarctic pathway might well also apply to eucalypts, whose oldest records are for southern South America, as well as currently endemic animals and microbes.

Source: The North Africa Journal January 28, 2024 19:33 UTC