Armoricaphyton | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Euphyllophytes |
Family: | incertae sedis |
Genus: | † Armoricaphyton |
Armoricaphyton is an extinct monospecific genus of vascular land plants described from Early Devonian (late Pragian-earliest Emsian) outcrops of the Chalonnes Formation in western France. [1] The plant consists of small, leafless, longitudinally-ribbed axes that branch pseudomonopodially. Pairs of fusiform-shaped, twisted sporangia preserved as adpressions were found in association with the axes and may belong to this species. [1] Permineralized specimens reveal the oldest documented wood or secondary xylem of any known fossil plant. The water-conducting tissues or tracheids consisted of extinct P-type cell walls. This type of cell wall consisted of scalariform bordered pits and perforated sheets that covered the openings (apertures) of the pits. [1] A. chateaupannense is anatomically similar in some respects to other members of the Euphyllophytina such as Psilophyton and Franhueberia. [1] Franhueberia gerriennei is also one of the earliest land plants described from the Early Devonian (late Emsian) that was known to have wood. [2] Given the differences between Armoricaphyton and these other genera and a lack of a complete understanding of the whole plant, Armoricaphyton is currently classified as Euphyllophytina incertae sedis. [1]