Eohostimella

Eohostimella heathana is an early, probably terrestrial, "plant" known from compression fossils of Early Silurian age (Llandovery, around 440 to 430 million years ago). The chemistry of its fossils is similar to that of fossilised vascular plants, rather than algae. Its anatomy constitutes upright, cylindrical tubes, with a thickened outer cortex, which may have contained traces of lignin or a similar compound, even though no tracheids or similar vessels have been found; the lignin-like compound was presumably associated with its thick outer cortex. It was probably affiliated with the rhyniophytes; it branched dichotomously and may have borne small spines.