Eophyllophyton bellum †

Early Devonian plant with true leaves

During the Early Devonian, most euphyllophyte plants are leafless (lycophytes had evolved microphylls). Eophyllophyton (Hao & Beck 1993) is one of the first plants to have true leaves (megaphylls), and may provide evidence for how euphyllophytes evolved leaves

Ecology & Form

Stems

  • The stem morphology superficially resembles several progymnosperms, but may occupy their own group.

Leaves

  • Laminar leaf pairs born laterally or terminally on axes

  • Tips curve inwards towards each-other

  • They are small and fan-shaped, with the laminae highly dissected

  • They range in width from 1.7 to 4.8 mm, in length from 2.2 to 5.0 mm, and in thickness from 40 to 200 mm. They seem to occur in clusters at the ends of small lateral branches.

  • Clear venation on lamina

    • Their dichotomous pattern of division reflects an isotomous or anisotomous venation, with each subdivision of the lamina served by a single vein.

    • In some instances, the pattern of division of the lamina is almost pinnate

Roots

  • Unknown

Reproduction

  • Leaves bear spherical sporangia

  • Arranged in rows on the abaxial side of the leaf, similar to other euphyllophytes like ferns

Above: the megaphyllous leaves of Eophyllophyton

Above: Axes, leaves, and anatomy of Eophyllophyton