Kingdom Plantae Class Lycopodiopsida Rank Family | Division Lycopodiophyta Order Drepanophycales | |
 | ||
Similar Baragwanathia, Drepanophycales, Drepanophycus, Asteroxylon, Lepidodendraceae | ||
Drepanophycaceae is a family of extinct vascular plants of the division Lycopodiophyta of Late Silurian to Late Devonian age (427 to 359 million years ago), found in North America, China, Russia, Europe, and Australia.
Contents
Description
The stems are several mm to several cm in diameter and several cm to several metres long, erect or arched, dichotomizing occasionally, furnished with true roots at the base. Vascular bundle an exarch actinostele, tracheids of primitive annular or helical type (so-called G-type). Leaves are unbranched microphylls several mm to 2 cm or more long with a single prominent vascular thread, arranged spirally to randomly on the stem. Homosporous sporangia borne singly on the upper leaf surface or in an axillary position.
Drepanophycaceae differs from a related family of the same period, Asteroxylaceae, in having vascularized microphylls; see Drepanophycales for more details.
Genera
The genera in the family are: