Many pieces and parts of small plants ended up encased in resin. Rarely do you find a whole or complete specimen. Examples of leaves, twigs, buds, pollen and pods from the past give us clues to the type of environment the creatures in amber came from. Scientists can even decipher seasonal and climate information. This particular stamen is from an amber producing tree, Hymenaea protera. Notice the pollen grains released and floating in the resin. Wonder if they'd still make me sneeze?
Photograph courtesy of Dr. George Poinar, from The Quest for Life in Amber
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