Nematophyta

The Nematophyta are an informal group of enigmatic organisms from the Silurian and Devonian. They range in size from a few millimeters to several meters long " tribes ". Your body is composed entirely of differently sized and differently shaped tubes. The Nematophyta have been known for over 150 years, their systematic position, their biology and ecology is still poorly understood.

The largest member of the Nematophyta is up to eight meters wide Prototaxites. Interpretations of their systematic position range of different algal groups (such as brown algae ) to early Basidiomycetes or lichens. The fossils resemble different degradation stages of modern liverworts, so could also originate from precursors of today's liverworts.

Other fossils that will be provided to Nematophyta are:

• Nematothallus
• Nematoplexus
• Nematasketum
• Pachytheca

Documents

• Thomas N. Taylor, Edith L. Taylor, Michael Krings: Paleobotany. The Biology and Evolution of Fossil Plants. Second Edition, Academic Press 2009, ISBN 978-0-12-373972-8