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Abstract

Despite accumulating evidence for ancient hybridization across the Tree of Life, the integration of paleobotanical perspectives with modern molecular data has been underutilized in evaluating the plausibility of ancient hybridization. Liu et al. (Pages 1119–1141) provides an excellent exemplar case study. This work constructed a globally comprehensive and robust phylogenetic framework of Fagaceae and revealed the extent, timeline, and geographic and ecological context of ancient hybridization between oaks (Quercus) and relatives in Quercoideae. The cover shows a branchlet with fruits and an inflorescence of Castanea seguinii Dode, a relative of oaks in Quercoideae.