A family of extinct fern-like plants that lived during the Carboniferous period hundreds of millions of years ago.
From Botryopteris (the main genus, from Greek botryos + pteris, fern) + -aceae (family suffix in plant taxonomy). Named for the grape-like arrangement of their reproductive structures.
These ancient plants had fern-like fronds with grape-clustered spore structures, and their fossilized remains helped paleontologists understand how the very first plants evolved their methods for spreading—dead plants revealing secrets through their oldest preserved features.
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