Explain the role of fossil Psilophytes in plant evolution?
Answers
Explanation:
Psilophytopsida is a now obsolete class containing one order, Psilophytales, which was previously used to classify a number of extinct plants which are now placed elsewhere. The class was established in 1917, under the name Psilophyta, with only three genera (Rhynia, Horneophyton and Psilophyton) for a group of fossil plants from the Upper Silurian and Devonian periods which lack true roots and leaves, but have a vascular system within a branching cylindrical stem. The living Psilotaceae, the whisk-ferns, were sometimes added to the class, which was then usually called Psilopsida. This classification is no longer in use.
Psilophytes play a major role in the evolution of vascular plants. Psilophytes are least complex terrestrial vascular plants which are known to be remnants of the Devonian flora( now extinct).
Psilophytes lack both roots and leaves, and is therefore said to be originated or derived from fern like plants. Therefore, they represent early ancestors of such plants, thereby confirming the evolution of vascular plants.
Psilophytes are known to have advanced features, both morphologically and anatomically, over simplest vascular plants such as Rhynia and Cooksonia. Evolution has also been noted within the psilophytes.