According to these studies, the stem age of Abrotanella is estimated to be approximately 19.4 million years ago, placing its origin in the early Miocene.

This was followed by a significant divergence event about 3.1 million years ago, which led to the formation of the two main lineages observed within the genus.

The genus is thought to have reached New Zealand and other Pacific areas through long-distance dispersal, as the timing of its evolution postdates the separation of these landmasses.

This finding challenges earlier hypotheses that might have attributed the distribution of Abrotanella to ancient vicariance events related to the break-up of Gondwana.

Researchers have proposed that this distribution pattern may have resulted from a combination of factors, including potential migration via land bridges or stepping stones along the Antarctic coast, as well as long-distance dispersal across ocean barriers.