New species of flower discovered fossilised in the Dominican Republic

A tropical flower has been seen for the first time in 45 million years after scientists discovered the plant encased in amber in the Dominican Republic.

The perfectly intact flower fossil named Strychnos electri is closely linked to modern daisies, mints and tomatoes.

It is hoped the discovery will assist scientists to determine how major evolutionary groups of flowering plants spread across the globe.

"From just this flower we are able to tell that this group of plants was present in mid-Tertiary forest in the Caribbean, and not just this species, but that representatives from a large group of flowering plants, the asterids, had formed and were in full speciation mode," Associate Professor Lena Stuwe, director of the Chrysler Herbarium at Rutgers University told the ABC.

The new discovery belongs to the Loganiaceae family and contains attributes of the Strychnos genus.

Researchers have been unable to determine the colour of the flowers or confirm if it has been pollinated.

"However, there are pollen grains on the outside of the petals so pollen has been shed and spread, typical of flowers that are insect pollinated," Dr Stuwe said.