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[The first trees. The Archaeopteris model].

B Meyer-Berthaud¹

¹Laboratoire de Paléobotanique, Institut des Sciences de l'Evolution (UMR 5554), Université Montpellier 2.

Journal De La Societe De Biologie

|December 1, 2000

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The earliest Devonian trees, like Archaeopteris, evolved complex branching and wood functions, offering insights into early forest ecosystems and plant evolution. These ancient trees show surprising modern characteristics, predating seed plants.

Area of Science:

Paleobotany
Evolutionary Biology
Plant Anatomy

Context:

The Devonian period (419.2 to 358.9 million years ago) witnessed the evolution of the first trees, transforming terrestrial ecosystems.
Four distinct plant groups independently evolved the tree habit, with progymnosperms like Archaeopteris being dominant.
Understanding early tree structures is crucial for reconstructing ancient forest dynamics and plant evolution.

Purpose:

To re-evaluate the morphology and growth of the Devonian progymnosperm Archaeopteris using new anatomical evidence.
To investigate the evolutionary significance of Archaeopteris's derived characters, including its wood function and branching patterns.
To explore the ecological role and potential reproductive strategies of Archaeopteris in early forests.

Summary:

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New analyses of Archaeopteris reveal a more complex tree structure than previously understood, with adventitious branches comparable to modern seed plants.
Archaeopteris possessed wood serving dual roles in support and conduction and may have had vegetative propagation strategies.
This ancient tree genus, a close relative to seed plants, dominated Devonian forests before its extinction correlated with the rise of seed plants.

Impact:

This research refines our understanding of early tree evolution and the development of complex plant architectures.
It highlights Archaeopteris as a key transitional form, bridging primitive free-sporing plants and early seed plants.
The findings contribute to our knowledge of ancient ecosystems and the evolutionary pressures that shaped plant life.