Rhynia

The species is known only from the Rhynie chert in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, where it grew in the vicinity of a silica-rich hot spring. Rhynia gwynne-vaughanii was named by Kidston and Lang in honour of their late friend and colleague, the botanist David Thomas Gwynne-Vaughan.

Rhynia gwynne-vaughanii was a small, leafless, rootless, branching plant that thrived in moist conditions. The stems are slender and cylindrical, measuring around 1-2 mm in diameter, with a smooth surface and small ridges visible under magnification, and they have dichotomous branching, which means they break evenly into two equal branches. The skin is green and photosynthesis occurs throughout the entire stem.

There were no real leaves observed for Rhynia gwynne-vaughanii; photosynthesis conducted directly through the stem. There are no genuine roots. Instead, Rhynia gwynne-vaughanii contained rhizoids, which were hair-like structures at the root that attached the plant to the substrate while also absorbing water. Terminal sporangia (spore capsules) at the terminals of branches released spores for reproduction, making the plant spore-bearing rather than seed-bearing.

Rhynia had vascular tissue, which contained xylem and phloem, the first known example of real conducting tissues in plants. This allowed for efficient transport of water and nutrients, marking a significant evolutionary step toward larger land plants.

Their cuticle has a waxy outer layer that reduces water loss, demonstrating adaptability to terrestrial living. Their stomata had tiny holes on the stem surface that controlled gas exchange—another early adaption to land. Rhynia produced spores that were spread by wind or water, and its generation cycle was likely similar to that of modern ferns and mosses (sporophyte dominating).

Rhynia's lifestyle ranged from terrestrial to semi-aquatic, with it living near hot springs, streams, and floodplains. It most likely flourished in dense colonies that formed tiny mats of vegetation.

The stem was completely green and photosynthetic. Rhynia will uptake depends on symbiotic fungi (mycorrhizae) to absorb nutrients from the soil, forming an important early plant-fungal connection. Rhynia's reproductive ecology was characterized by the discharge of spores into moist habitats, where gametophytes formed and required water for fertilization.

Coming soon

Rhynia fossils are most commonly found in Scotland's Rhynie Chert, an ancient hot spring habitat. The Rhynie Chert is one of the most important fossil deposits for understanding early terrestrial ecosystems. Rhynia-like fossils were discovered in many Early Devonian sites, including Canada and Germany, around 407 million years ago. This primordial Devonian plant grew in warm, humid volcanic locations near geothermal springs and streams, where the soils were thin and wet, ideal for early land plants that required regular hydration.

• Movement Pattern: Not a Migrant

• Individual Type: Solo

• Population Trend: Stable

• Population: none

• Locomotion: Terrestrial

• Habitat: Montane Grasslands and Shrublands; Temperate Coniferous Forests; Temperate Broadleaf and Mixed Forests; Temperate Deciduous Forests; Temperate Grasslands, Savannas, and Shrublands; Subtropical Coniferous Forests; Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests; Subtropical Dry Broadleaf Forests; Subtropical Grasslands, Savannas, and Shrublands; Tropical Coniferous Forests; Tropical Moist Broadleaf Forests; Tropical Dry Broadleaf Forests; Tropical Grasslands, Savannas and Shrublands; Mediterranean Forests, Woodlands, and Scrub; Deserts and Xeric Shrublands; Badlands; Flooded Grasslands and Savannas; Swamp; Bayous/Billabongs; Riparian; Wetland; Mangrove Forest; Cold Bamboo Forests; Tropical Bamboo Forests.

• Medicine: human & veterinary

  • Local: ✔, National: ✘, International: ✘

• Food:

  • Local: ✔, National: ✘, International: ✘

• Earth: 

  • Extinct: China; South Korea

• Berbania/Hirawhassa: 

  • Extant: none

• Reinachos/Ityosel: 

  • Extant: none

Rhynia can be planted on soft and better soil on land, on flower pots or even for plant boxes for horticulture degree life via de-extinction process.

Coming soon

Biological Relative

• shit

Allies

• shit

Enemies

• shit

See also: none

• Coming soon

Coming soon

• Coming soon

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhynia

• https://plantssparkjoy.com/quotes-and-quips-for-every-plant-lover/amp/

• https://www.deviantart.com/ognimdo2002/art/Rhynia-gwynne-vaughanii-933747001