The evolution of plant development in a paleontological context

Contrary to what might be expected from the observation of extant plants alone, the fossil record indicates that most aspects of vascular plant form evolved multiple times during their Paleozoic radiation. Opportunity is increasing to unite information from fossil and living plants to understand the evolution of developmental mechanisms and each field can provide tests for hypotheses derived from the other. The paleontological context to recent advances in developmental genetics is reviewed for the evolution of a functionally independent sporophyte generation, of leaves, and of roots — all of which are integral to understanding the explosive radiation of vascular plants during the Devonian, 400 million years ago.