Flowering plants arose about

Options

A. 30 million years ago
B. 140 million years ago
C. 225 million years ago
D. 345 million years ago

Answer

**Step-by-Step Solution:**

1. **Understanding the Question**: The question asks about the time period when flowering plants (angiosperms) arose.

2. **Identifying Key Periods**: Flowering plants are known to have evolved during specific geological periods. The Cretaceous period is particularly important in this context.

3. **Historical Context**: The evolution of flowering plants can be traced back to around 140 million years ago, during the late Cretaceous period.

4. **Evolutionary Lineage**: The evolutionary lineage leading to flowering plants includes several key stages:
- Coelophyton gave rise to progymnosperms.
- Progymnosperms evolved into seed ferns.
- Seed ferns branched into cycads and later into flowering plants (angiosperms).

5. **Classification of Angiosperms**: Angiosperms can be further classified into two main groups:
- Monocots (which are the more primitive group).
- Dicots (which evolved later).

6. **Final Conclusion**: Based on the information, flowering plants arose approximately 140 million years ago during the Cretaceous period.

**Final Answer**: Flowering plants arose about 140 million years ago.

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