Archaeopteris

Definitions

proper noun A taxonomic genus within the family Archaeopteridaceae — known from fossils and widely accepted as the earliest and most primitive known tree, with wood similar to a conifer's, but producing spores like a fern.

From Ancient Greek ἀρχαῖος (arkhaios, "ancient") + πτερίς (pteris, "fern").

Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word Archaeopteris.

By the end of the Devonian, forests of progymnosperms, such as Archaeopteris dominated the landscape.

Paleozoic 2009
Following taxa present an evolutive and phylogenetic interest: Archaeopteris belongs to Gymnosperma, Spermasposita is considered as the oldest flowering plant, while Petaloscorpio is the first terrestrial scorpion.

Miguasha Provincial Park, Canada 2008
First clubmosses and horsetails appear, progymnosperms (first seed bearing plants) appear, first trees (Archaeopteris).

Table of geologic time - The Panda's Thumb 2005