Ludlow Epoch

Evidence of earliest leaves

The Ludlow Epoch (427–423 Ma) is the late Middle Silurian, before the Pridoli, and after the Wenlock Epoch

Record of tracheids, and therefore evidence of vascular plants, in the fossil record (Edwards & Davies 1976)
Cooksonia cambrensis and C. pertoni are found during this time from fossils in Tipperary, Ireland (Edwards, Bassett and Rogerson 1979; Edwards & Richardson 2004)
Steganotheca striata, from Powys, Wales (Edwards & Rogerson 1979)
Baragwanathia longifolia, Salopella australis, Hedeia sp. have been reported from Victoria, Australia (Tims and Chambers 1984)
- Baragwanathia represents the earliest known land plant leaves (microphylls)
Bathurstia, Distichophytum, Hostinella, Macivera gracilis, and Zosterophyllum (Kotyk et al. 2002)