Plant Evolution & Paleobotany

Plant

Classification

Evolutionary Ordering of Plant Groups

A cladogram of the evolutionary relationships of land plants (embryophytes) and possible origination during geologic time. The phylogenetic relationships are based upon studies that incorporate fossil taxa, which may give different results than purely molecular cladistics. The thick-labeled bars indicate evidence for macrofossils of each group during geologic time.

Below you will find the evolutionary or phylogenetic groupings of land plant groups, based upon current research. Click on a group to learn about their characteristics, time range, and evolutionary significance.

† = Extinct; * Diverts to Plant Diversity website

Classification

Archaeplastida *

└Viridiplantae *

├Chlorophytes *

└Streptophytes

├Anydrophytes

└Embryophytes

├Bryophytes *

└Setaphytes

├Liverworts *

└Polysporangiophytes

├Eophytes †

├Horneophytes †

├Aglaophyton †

└Tracheophytes

├Rhyniales †

└Eutracheophytes

├Cooksonioids †

├Zosterophylls †

└Sawdoniales †

├?Barinophytes †

├Drepanophycales †

├Protolepidodendrales †

├Lycopodiales *

├Selaginellales *

├Pleuromeiales †

└Lepidodendrales †

└Euphyllophytes

├Trimerophytes †

└Eophyllophyton †

├Monilophytes

├Cladoxylopsida †

├Iridopteridales †

└Pseudosporochnales †

└Eospermatopteris †

├Equisetophytes

├Pseudoborniales †

├Sphenophyllales †

├Stauropteridales †

├Rhacophytales †

├Zygopteridales †

├Psilotales *

├Ophioglossales *

└True ferns *

├Pertica †

├Progymnosperms †

├?Eophyllophyton †

├Aneurophytales †

├Stenokoleales †

├Archeopteridales †

├Protopityales †

└Noeggerathians †

└Spermatophytes

├Basal seed plants †

├Lyginopteridales †

├Medullosales †

├Buteoxylonales †

├Callistophytales †

├Calamopityales †

├Dirhopalostachtaceae †

├Gigantopteridales †

├Nystroemiaceae †

├Hermanophytes †

├Iraniales †

├Peltaspermales †

├Corystospermales †

├Czekanowskiales †

├Vladimariales †

├Vojnovskyales †

├Coniferophytes

├Cordaitales †

├Voltziales †

├Gnetophytes *

└?Anthophytes

├Glossopteridales †

├Petriellales †

├Pentoxylon †

├Bennettitales †

├Doyleales †

├Caytoniales †

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