Asteroxylon

/ˌæstəroʊˈzaɪlən/ noun

Definition

An extinct primitive plant from the Devonian period with star-shaped leaf scars and simple vascular tissue.

Etymology

From Greek 'aster' (star) + 'xylon' (wood), named for the characteristic star-shaped arrangement of vascular bundles visible on its stems.

Kelly Says

Asteroxylon is a window into what Earth's first vascular plants looked like 400 million years ago—these humble pioneers developed the internal plumbing systems that eventually allowed land plants to grow upright and tall.

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