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2. The Rise of Vascular Plants
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A important discovery came with the evolution of vascular tissues as plants kept changing to fit life on ground. First seen some 430 million years ago, this invention transformed plant biology and opened the path for the colonising of many terrestrial environments. Comprising xylem and phloem, vascular tissues let plants effectively move sugars, nutrients, and water throughout their bodies, therefore permitting their growth in height and complexity.
Cooksonia and Rhynia were among the first vascular plants, still somewhat tiny and basic in form. Still, they marked a major evolutionary leap forward for plants. Though they lacked leaves and roots as we know them today, these plants had basic branching stems and generated spores for reproduction. These simple early vascular plants were remarkably successful, dispersing over the ground and developing into many varieties.
Vascular plants saw fast evolution and variety as the Devonian epoch (419–359 million years ago) developed. More intricate plant forms including the first real leaves, roots, and seeds emerged in this age. These traits let plants attach themselves in the ground, more successfully gather sunlight, and procreate in dry conditions. This era of invention prepared the ground for the enormous expansion of plant life that would follow, therefore transforming the Earth's landscapes and ecosystems and creating the first forests.
