Home

euphyllophytes

Euphyllophytes, or Euphyllophyta, are a major clade of vascular plants defined by the possession of megaphylls, or true leaves with a branched vein system. They constitute one of the principal lineages of land plants (tracheophytes) and are distinguished from the lycophytes, which have simpler microphylls. The defining feature is the evolutionary origin of megaphyllous leaves in a common ancestor, followed by diversification into several major lineages.

The two largest groups within euphyllophytes are the Monilophyta, which includes ferns and their relatives (ferns,

Fossil evidence shows that megaphylls evolved early in the euphyllophyte lineage, with the megafoliate condition becoming

Today euphyllophytes are globally distributed and occupy a wide range of habitats, from tropical rainforests to

horsetails,
and
whisk
ferns),
and
the
seed
plants
(Spermatophyta),
which
comprise
gymnosperms
and
angiosperms.
widespread
during
the
Devonian.
The
diversification
of
seed
plants
in
later
periods
led
to
the
appearance
of
large
forests
and
widespread
seed-based
reproduction.
temperate
regions.
They
include
many
ecologically
dominant
forms
and
are
central
to
studies
of
plant
evolution,
diversification,
and
the
evolution
of
leaves.