The current plant species that we hold in our rooms are almost all of the Aronskelk family. This includes the plant generations Dieffenbachia, Epipremnum, Alocasia, Anthurium, Caladium, Monstera and Philodendron among other things. This plant family appears in the wild in tropical rain forests. But how are these special house plants developed and become the way they are now?
When did house plants appear in nature for the first time?
The Araceae (Aronskelk) is one plant family which only exists in very moist conditions in the wild. The plants like the Philodendron That belongs to this family cannot stand frost and drought. So they only occur in specific circumstances. A place where biodiversity is incredibly wide, but also closely coordinated.
The oldest fossil that has ever been found of this plant family dates from the early chalk. So they have experienced the dinosaurs! The Araceae is a family of plants, which has one of the oldest fossils among the coasters. During this period the climate was comparable to the late Jura. The early chalk lasted from 145 million years to 100.5 million years ago.
Why did so many plants arise in the chalk?
During this period the continents were still fairly close together. The sea level was relatively high during this period. The climate was a lot warmer during this period. Twice it cooled a bit in between, but it was not nearly as "cool" as now. Yet there was less difference in temperatures between latitudes. As a result, there were less strong winds and the same types of plants and animals lived over a larger area.
Capiocating were particularly common in wet areas. Areas with high humidity and a relatively stable climate throughout the year.
How did the house plants survive mass extinction?
If you are a bit familiar with the dinos, you know that it also came to an end due to changing climate because of volcanic eruptions and a large impact of a meteorite. The temperature spontaneously fell drastically all over the world and there would have been little to no sunlight for a few months at a time. The plant diversity then fell by 45% just after the impact. However, because especially the cone -shaped plants and ferns disappeared from the Amazon, there was room for the coverage.
It is thought that the large dinosaurs trampled many of the covered drivers. When these animals dial after the impact, there was room for these plants. Moreover, it is thought that the axis of the impact and the volcanic eruptions would have caused a nutrient -rich soil. This was the reason for a completely different and more complex biodiversity in the tropical rain forests.
Where can I find these special plants?
Are you now also completely fascinated by the origin and survival of these special plants? We also! That is why we have turned our hobby (collecting special and rare house plants) into our work. We are happy to share this hobby and passion with you. Look here For all kinds of special houseplants, which we are currently offering.
