Eophytes

Eophytes are an ancestral and transitional group of land plants that were recently named (Edwards et al. 2021a; Edwards et al. 2021b). They had branching sporophytes, with food-conducting cells, but lacked water-conducting cells. Thalloid fossils associated with the branched forms may be female gametophytes that transferred nutrients to the sporophytes. It is possible that the sporophytes were non-photosynthetic, and obtained nourishment from the gametophyte through transfer cells.

Form & Ecology

Sporophyte (Spore-bearing phase)

Stem

Leaves

Roots

Reproduction


Gametophyte (gamete-forming phase)



Above: Two hypotheses on the relationships among living bryophytes (hornwort, liverwort, moss) and tracheophytes (Trach) with the most significant support in molecular phylogenetic analyses (Puttick et al. 2018). FCC = food-conducting cells; WCC = water-conducting cells; Aglo = Aglaophytes; Eo = Eophytes (from Fig. 8, Edwards et al. 2021b)

Classification

Embryophytes

Polysporangiophytes

   └Eophytes


Geologic Age

Above: Fertile specimens of eophytes from Welsh borderland (from Fig. 2, Edwards et al. 2021b)

Above: Labyrinthine network of elongating and branching wall ingrowths fusing with neighboring ones (from Fig. 4, Edwards et al. 2021a)

Partitatheca  

P. splendida (type)

P. horrida

P. densa

P. cymosa