Eohostimella heathana is an early, probably terrestrial, "plant" known from compression fossils[2] of Early Silurian age (Llandovery, around 440 to 430 million years ago[3]). The chemistry of its fossils is similar to that of fossilised vascular plants, rather than algae.[2] Its anatomy constitutes upright, cylindrical tubes,[2] with a thickened outer cortex,[4] which might have contained traces of lignin or a similar compound,[2] even though no tracheids or similar vessels have been found;[4] the lignin-like compound was presumably associated with its thick outer cortex.[5] It branched dichotomously and might have borne small spines.[6] It was probably affiliated with the rhyniophytes.[4]
Eohostimella Temporal range:
| |
---|---|
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Stem group: | †Rhyniophytes (?) |
Genus: | †Eohostimella J.M.Schopf (1966)[1] |
Species: | †E. heathana
|
Binomial name | |
†Eohostimella heathana J.M.Schopf (1966)[1]
|