lycophite

Lycophite is a term that has been used historically and in some older botanical literature to refer to a group of plants that are now classified as lycophytes. Lycophytes are a diverse group of vascular plants, distinct from ferns and seed plants. They are characterized by having microphylls, which are small, simple leaves with a single vascular strand. The group includes clubmosses, spikemosses, and quillworts.

These plants reproduce via spores, a characteristic they share with ferns and horsetails. Lycophytes are among the oldest lineages of extant vascular plants, with a fossil record extending back to the Devonian period. They played a significant role in the ancient ecosystems of the Carboniferous period, forming large forests that contributed to the formation of coal deposits.

Modern lycophytes are generally small, herbaceous plants found in a variety of habitats, from tropical rainforests to alpine environments. Some species, like quillworts, are aquatic or semi-aquatic. The term "lycophite" itself is not a formal taxonomic rank but rather a descriptive term for members of the Lycopodiophyta division. Modern botanical classification uses the term lycophyte to encompass this ancient and fascinating group of plants.