1. An extinct group of early vascular plants from the Devonian period, characterized by simple branching stems without true roots or leaves.
Usage: paleobotany; plural form; singular is psilophyte; also called psilopsids

Examples

• Psilophytes were among the first plants to develop vascular tissue for transporting water and nutrients.
• The fossil record shows that psilophytes dominated terrestrial ecosystems during the early Devonian period.
• Scientists study psilophytes to understand the evolution of plant structure and adaptation to land.
• Unlike modern plants, psilophytes lacked true roots and leaves, relying instead on simple rhizoids.
• The discovery of psilophyte fossils provided crucial evidence for understanding early plant evolution.