noun
- An early land plant of the Devonian period, characterized by a simple structure with no true roots, leaves, or vascular tissue; a member of the division Psilophyta.
Usage: paleobotany; geology; technical
Examples
- Psilophytes were among the first plants to colonize land during the Devonian period.
- The fossil record shows that psilophytes had simple, branching stems without true leaves.
- Scientists study psilophytes to understand the early evolution of terrestrial plants.
- Unlike modern plants, psilophytes lacked a true root system for water absorption.