Clade of land plants with xylem and phloem

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vascular plant</span>

Vascular plant

<p><b>Vascular plants</b> (<span>from</span><span> </span><a href="/en/Latin_language" title="Latin language" class="mw-redirect wl">Latin</a><span> </span><i> <i lang="la"><a href="https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/vasculum#Latin" title="wikt:vasculum" class="extiw" target="_blank">vasculum</a></i></i><span>&nbsp;</span><span>'duct'</span>), also called <b>tracheophytes</b> (<span class="rt-commentedText nowrap"><span class="IPA nopopups noexcerpt"><a href="/en/Help:IPA/English" title="Help:IPA/English" class="wl">/<span style="border-bottom:1px dotted"><span>t</span><span>r</span><span>ə</span><span>ˈ</span><span>k</span><span>iː</span><span>.</span><span>ə</span><span>ˌ</span><span>f</span><span>aɪ</span><span>t</span><span>s</span></span>/</a></span></span>)<span class="mw-ref reference" id="cite_ref-5"><a href="#cite_note-5" style="counter-reset: mw-Ref 5;"><span class="mw-reflink-text">[5]</span></a></span><span class="mw-ref reference" id="cite_ref-ScienceDirect_6-0"><a href="#cite_note-ScienceDirect-6" style="counter-reset: mw-Ref 6;"><span class="mw-reflink-text">[6]</span></a></span> or collectively <b>Tracheophyta</b> (<span>from</span><span> </span><a href="/en/Ancient_Greek_language" title="Ancient Greek language" class="mw-redirect wl">Ancient Greek</a><span> </span><i> </i><span><a href="https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/τραχεῖα%20ἀρτηρία#Ancient_Greek" title="wikt:τραχεῖα ἀρτηρία" class="extiw" target="_blank">τραχεῖα ἀρτηρία</a></span><i> (<span><i>trakheîa artēría</i></span>)</i><span>&nbsp;</span><span>'windpipe',</span><span> </span><span>and</span><span> </span><i> </i><span><a href="https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/φυτά#Ancient_Greek" title="wikt:φυτά" class="extiw" target="_blank">φυτά</a></span><i> (<span><i>phutá</i></span>)</i><span>&nbsp;</span><span>'plants'</span>),<span class="mw-ref reference" id="cite_ref-ScienceDirect_6-1"><a href="#cite_note-ScienceDirect-6" style="counter-reset: mw-Ref 6;"><span class="mw-reflink-text">[6]</span></a></span> form a large group of <a href="/en/Embryophyte" title="Embryophyte" class="wl">land plants</a> (<abbr about="#mwt35" typeof="mw:Transclusion" data-mw="{&quot;parts&quot;:[{&quot;template&quot;:{&quot;target&quot;:{&quot;wt&quot;:&quot;circa&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:&quot;./Template:Circa&quot;},&quot;params&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:{&quot;wt&quot;:&quot;300,000&quot;}},&quot;i&quot;:0}}]}">c.</abbr><span style="white-space:nowrap;"><span> </span>300,000</span> accepted known species)<span class="mw-ref reference" id="cite_ref-Christenhusz-Byng2016_7-0"><a href="#cite_note-Christenhusz-Byng2016-7" style="counter-reset: mw-Ref 7;"><span class="mw-reflink-text">[7]</span></a></span> that have <a href="/en/Lignin" title="Lignin" class="wl">lignified</a> <a href="/en/Tissue_(biology)" title="Tissue (biology)" class="wl">tissues</a> (the <a href="/en/Xylem" title="Xylem" class="wl">xylem</a>) for conducting water and minerals throughout the plant. They also have a specialized non-lignified tissue (the <a href="/en/Phloem" title="Phloem" class="wl">phloem</a>) to conduct products of <a href="/en/Photosynthesis" title="Photosynthesis" class="wl">photosynthesis</a>. Vascular plants include the <a href="/en/Clubmoss" title="Clubmoss" class="mw-redirect wl">clubmosses</a>, <a href="/en/Equisetum" title="Equisetum" class="wl">horsetails</a>, <a href="/en/Fern" title="Fern" class="wl">ferns</a>, <a href="/en/Gymnosperm" title="Gymnosperm" class="wl">gymnosperms</a> (including <a href="/en/Conifer" title="Conifer" class="wl">conifers</a>), and angiosperms (<a href="/en/Flowering_plant" title="Flowering plant" class="wl">flowering plants</a>). Scientific names for the group include Tracheophyta,<span class="mw-ref reference" id="cite_ref-8"><a href="#cite_note-8" style="counter-reset: mw-Ref 8;"><span class="mw-reflink-text">[8]</span></a></span><span class="mw-ref reference" id="cite_ref-cav_4-1"><a href="#cite_note-cav-4" style="counter-reset: mw-Ref 4;"><span class="mw-reflink-text">[4]</span></a></span><sup class="reference nowrap"><span><span>:</span><span> </span>251<span> </span></span></sup> Tracheobionta<span class="mw-ref reference" id="cite_ref-itistrach_9-0"><a href="#cite_note-itistrach-9" style="counter-reset: mw-Ref 9;"><span class="mw-reflink-text">[9]</span></a></span> and <a href="/en/Equisetopsida_sensu_lato" title="Equisetopsida sensu lato" class="mw-redirect wl">Equisetopsida <i>sensu lato</i></a>. Some early land plants (the <a href="/en/Rhyniophyte" title="Rhyniophyte" class="wl">rhyniophytes</a>) had less developed vascular tissue; the term <b>eutracheophyte</b> has been used for all other vascular plants, including all living ones.</p>

<div class="shortdescription nomobile noexcerpt noprint searchaux" style="display:none" about="#mwt1">Clade of land plants with xylem and phloem</div>
<p about="#mwt6"></p><span>
</span><div class='mobile-collapse'><header class="mobile-collapse-header mobile-collapse-btn"><b>Quick facts: Vascular plants Temporal range  Silurian–Pres...</b> <span class='arrow'>▼</span></header> <table class="infobox biota mobile-collapse-element" style="text-align: left; width: 200px; font-size: 100%">
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<th colspan="2" style="text-align: center; background-color: rgb(180,250,180)" class="notheme">Vascular plants<br><div style="font-size: 85%;">Temporal range: <span class="noprint"><span style="display:inline-block;"><a href="/en/Silurian" title="Silurian" class="wl">Silurian</a>–Present, 425–0 <a href="/en/Megaannum" title="Megaannum" class="mw-redirect wl">Ma</a></span><span class="mw-ref reference" id="cite_ref-Edwards1980_1-0"><a href="#cite_note-Edwards1980-1" style="counter-reset: mw-Ref 1;"><span class="mw-reflink-text">[1]</span></a></span><span class="mw-ref reference" id="cite_ref-Parfrey2011_2-0"><a href="#cite_note-Parfrey2011-2" style="counter-reset: mw-Ref 2;"><span class="mw-reflink-text">[2]</span></a></span> <div id="Timeline-row" style="margin: 4px auto 0; clear:both; width:220px; padding:0px; height:18px; overflow:visible; white-space:nowrap; border:1px #666; border-style:solid none; position:relative; z-index:0; font-size:97%;">
<div style="position:absolute; height:100%; left:0px; width:207.23076923077px; padding-left:5px; text-align:left; background-color:rgb(254,217,106); background-image: linear-gradient(to right, rgba(255,255,255,1), rgba(254,217,106,1) 15%, rgba(254,217,106,1));" class="notheme"><a href="/en/Precambrian" title="Precambrian" class="wl">PreꞒ</a></div>
<div style="position:absolute; height:100%; text-align:center; background-color:rgb(127,160,86); left:37.636923076923px; width:18.073846153846px;" class="notheme"><a href="/en/Cambrian" title="Cambrian" class="wl">Ꞓ</a></div>
<div style="position:absolute; height:100%; text-align:center; background-color:rgb(0,146,112); left:55.710769230769px; width:14.08px;" class="notheme"><a href="/en/Ordovician" title="Ordovician" class="wl">O</a></div>
<div style="position:absolute; height:100%; text-align:center; background-color:rgb(179,225,182); left:69.790769230769px; width:8.3261538461539px;" class="notheme"><a href="/en/Silurian" title="Silurian" class="wl">S</a></div>
<div style="position:absolute; height:100%; text-align:center; background-color:rgb(203,140,55); left:78.116923076923px; width:20.409230769231px;" class="notheme"><a href="/en/Devonian" title="Devonian" class="wl">D</a></div>
<div style="position:absolute; height:100%; text-align:center; background-color:rgb(103,165,153); left:98.526153846154px; width:20.307692307692px;" class="notheme"><a href="/en/Carboniferous" title="Carboniferous" class="wl">C</a></div>
<div style="position:absolute; height:100%; text-align:center; background-color:rgb(240,64,40); left:118.83384615385px; width:15.907015384615px;" class="notheme"><a href="/en/Permian" title="Permian" class="wl">P</a></div>
<div style="position:absolute; height:100%; text-align:center; background-color:rgb(129,43,146); left:134.74086153846px; width:17.092984615385px;" class="notheme"><a href="/en/Triassic" title="Triassic" class="wl">T</a></div>
<div style="position:absolute; height:100%; text-align:center; background-color:rgb(52,178,201); left:151.83384615385px; width:19.089230769231px;" class="notheme"><a href="/en/Jurassic" title="Jurassic" class="wl">J</a></div>
<div style="position:absolute; height:100%; text-align:center; background-color:rgb(127,198,78); left:170.92307692308px; width:26.738461538462px;" class="notheme"><a href="/en/Cretaceous" title="Cretaceous" class="wl">K</a></div>
<div style="position:absolute; height:100%; text-align:center; background-color:rgb(253,154,82); left:197.66153846154px; width:14.543692307692px;" class="notheme"><a href="/en/Paleogene" title="Paleogene" class="wl">Pg</a></div>
<div style="position:absolute; height:100%; text-align:center; background-color:rgb(255,230,25); left:212.20523076923px; width:6.9215384615385px;" class="notheme"><a href="/en/Neogene" title="Neogene" class="wl">N</a></div>
<div id="end-border" style="position:absolute; height:100%; background-color:#666; width:1px; left:219px" class="notheme"></div><div style="margin:0 auto; line-height:0; clear:both; width:220px; padding:0px; height:8px; overflow:visible; background-color:transparent; position:relative; top:-4px; z-index:100;" class="notheme"><div style="position:absolute; height:8px; left:76.153846153846px; width:143.84615384615px; background-color:#360; opacity:0.42; " class="notheme"></div>
<div style="position:absolute; height:8px; left:76.153846153846px; width:143.84615384615px; background-color:#360; opacity:1; " class="notheme"></div>
<div style="position:absolute; height:6px; top:1px; left:77.153846153846px; width:141.84615384615px; background-color:#6c3;" class="notheme"></div>
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</div></span></div></th></tr>
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<td colspan="2" style="text-align: center"><span class="mw-default-size"><a href="/en/File:Unidentified_fern,_Cambridge_University_Botanic_Garden.jpg" class="mw-file-description image media-thumb" data-hash="File:Unidentified_fern,_Cambridge_University_Botanic_Garden.jpg"><img loading="lazy" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ed/Unidentified_fern%2C_Cambridge_University_Botanic_Garden.jpg/220px-Unidentified_fern%2C_Cambridge_University_Botanic_Garden.jpg" decoding="async" data-file-width="1600" data-file-height="1066" data-file-type="bitmap" height="147" width="220" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ed/Unidentified_fern%2C_Cambridge_University_Botanic_Garden.jpg/330px-Unidentified_fern%2C_Cambridge_University_Botanic_Garden.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ed/Unidentified_fern%2C_Cambridge_University_Botanic_Garden.jpg/440px-Unidentified_fern%2C_Cambridge_University_Botanic_Garden.jpg 2x" alt="Unidentified_fern%2C_Cambridge_University_Botanic_Garden.jpg"></a></span></td></tr>
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<td colspan="2" style="text-align: center; font-size: 88%"><a href="/en/Common_lady-fern" title="Common lady-fern" class="mw-redirect wl">Common lady-fern</a>, a non-seed-bearing plant</td></tr>
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<td colspan="2" style="text-align: center"><span class="mw-default-size"><a href="/en/File:Young_lemon_basil_plant_(Ocimum_×_africanum).jpg" class="mw-file-description image media-thumb" data-hash="File:Young_lemon_basil_plant_(Ocimum_×_africanum).jpg"><img loading="lazy" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/74/Young_lemon_basil_plant_%28Ocimum_%C3%97_africanum%29.jpg/220px-Young_lemon_basil_plant_%28Ocimum_%C3%97_africanum%29.jpg" decoding="async" data-file-width="4624" data-file-height="3468" data-file-type="bitmap" height="165" width="220" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/74/Young_lemon_basil_plant_%28Ocimum_%C3%97_africanum%29.jpg/330px-Young_lemon_basil_plant_%28Ocimum_%C3%97_africanum%29.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/74/Young_lemon_basil_plant_%28Ocimum_%C3%97_africanum%29.jpg/440px-Young_lemon_basil_plant_%28Ocimum_%C3%97_africanum%29.jpg 2x" alt="Young_lemon_basil_plant_%28Ocimum_%C3%97_africanum%29.jpg"></a></span></td></tr>
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<td colspan="2" style="text-align: center; font-size: 88%"><a href="/en/Lemon_basil" title="Lemon basil" class="wl">Lemon basil</a>, a <a href="/en/Spermatophyte" title="Spermatophyte" class="wl">seed-bearing</a> plant</td></tr>

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<th colspan="2" style="min-width:15em; text-align: center; background-color: rgb(180,250,180)" class="notheme"><a href="/en/Taxonomy_(biology)" title="Taxonomy (biology)" class="wl">Scientific classification</a> <span class="plainlinks" style="font-size:smaller; float:right; padding-right:0.4em; margin-left:-3em;"><span class="mw-default-size"><a href="/en/Template:Taxonomy/Tracheophytes/Plantae" title="e" class="image wl"><img loading="lazy"alt="e" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/74/Red_Pencil_Icon.png" decoding="async" data-file-width="16" data-file-height="16" data-file-type="bitmap" height="16" width="16"></a></span></span></th></tr>
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<td>Kingdom:</td>
<td><a href="/en/Plant" title="Plant" class="wl">Plantae</a></td></tr>
<tr>
<td><i>Clade</i>:</td>
<td><a href="/en/Embryophyte" title="Embryophyte" class="wl">Embryophytes</a></td></tr>
<tr>
<td><i>Clade</i>:</td>
<td><a href="/en/Polysporangiophyte" title="Polysporangiophyte" class="wl">Polysporangiophytes</a></td></tr>
<tr>
<td><i>Clade</i>:</td>
<td><a href="/en/Vascular_plant" title="Vascular plant" class="wl">Tracheophytes</a><br><small>Sinnott, 1935<span class="mw-ref reference" id="cite_ref-3"><a href="#cite_note-3" style="counter-reset: mw-Ref 3;"><span class="mw-reflink-text">[3]</span></a></span> ex <a href="/en/Thomas_Cavalier-Smith" title="Thomas Cavalier-Smith" class="wl">Cavalier-Smith</a>, 1998<span class="mw-ref reference" id="cite_ref-cav_4-0"><a href="#cite_note-cav-4" style="counter-reset: mw-Ref 4;"><span class="mw-reflink-text">[4]</span></a></span></small></td></tr>



































































































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<tr>
<th colspan="2" style="text-align: center; background-color: rgb(180,250,180)" class="notheme"><b>Divisions</b><br><small>† Extinct</small></th></tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="2" style="text-align: left">
<ul><li>Non-seed-bearing plants
<ul><li>†<i><a href="/en/Cooksonia" title="Cooksonia" class="wl">Cooksonia</a></i></li>
<li>†<a href="/en/Rhyniophyte" title="Rhyniophyte" class="wl">Rhyniophyta</a></li>
<li>†<a href="/en/Zosterophyll" title="Zosterophyll" class="wl">Zosterophyllophyta</a></li>
<li><a href="/en/Lycopodiopsida" title="Lycopodiopsida" class="wl">Lycopodiophyta</a></li>
<li>†<a href="/en/Trimerophytophyta" title="Trimerophytophyta" class="mw-redirect wl">Trimerophytophyta</a></li>
<li><a href="/en/Fern" title="Fern" class="wl">Polypodiophyta</a></li>
<li>†<a href="/en/Progymnospermophyta" title="Progymnospermophyta" class="mw-redirect wl">Progymnospermophyta</a></li></ul></li>
<li>Superdivision <a href="/en/Spermatophyta" title="Spermatophyta" class="mw-redirect wl">Spermatophyta</a>
<ul><li>†<a href="/en/Pteridospermatophyta" title="Pteridospermatophyta" class="wl">Pteridospermatophyta</a></li>
<li><a href="/en/Pinophyta" title="Pinophyta" class="mw-redirect wl">Pinophyta</a></li>
<li><a href="/en/Cycadophyta" title="Cycadophyta" class="mw-redirect wl">Cycadophyta</a></li>
<li><a href="/en/Ginkgophyta" title="Ginkgophyta" class="mw-redirect wl">Ginkgophyta</a></li>
<li><a href="/en/Gnetophyta" title="Gnetophyta" class="wl">Gnetophyta</a></li>
<li><a href="/en/Flowering_plant" title="Flowering plant" class="wl">Magnoliophyta</a> (angiosperms)</li>
<li>†<a href="/en/Bennettitales" title="Bennettitales" class="wl">Bennettitales</a></li></ul></li></ul></td></tr>

















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<p>Historically, vascular plants were known as "<b>higher plants</b>", as it was believed that they were further <a href="/en/Evolution" title="Evolution" class="wl">evolved</a> than other plants due to being more complex organisms. However, this is an antiquated remnant of the obsolete <a href="/en/Great_chain_of_being" title="Great chain of being" class="wl">scala naturae</a>, and the term is generally considered to be <a href="/en/Scientific_method" title="Scientific method" class="wl">unscientific</a>.<span class="mw-ref reference" id="cite_ref-10"><a href="#cite_note-10" style="counter-reset: mw-Ref 10;"><span class="mw-reflink-text">[10]</span></a></span></p>



Vascular plants , also called tracheophytes  and Equisetopsida sensu lato. Some early land plants had less developed vascular tissue; the term eutracheophyte has been used for all other vascular plants, including all living ones. Historically, vascular plants were known as "higher plants", as it was believed that they were further evolved than other plants due to being more complex organisms. However, this is an antiquated remnant of the obsolete scala naturae, and the term is generally considered to be unscientific. 