Information AboutGigantopterid |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT GIGANTOPTERID | |
| prehistoric plants | |
| permian life | |
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They bore many of the traits of Flowering Plant s, but are not known to have flowered themselves. Gigantopterid plants had simple, bilaterally symmetrical leaf structures, woody stems and spines. They grew new parts by producing shoots, like flowering plants. Judging from the fossil remains, they were probably robust plants with Frond s that resembled Fern fronds when young but were more like flowering plant Leaves arranged in a frond when mature. They grew at least over 20 cm (around 10 in), probably over 50 cm (20 in) tall, depending on whether it grew as a scrambling vine (the initial assumption) or erect (nowadays considered more likely). Some were apparently Amphibious , while others thrived in rather Arid Habitat . Chemical analysis of in at least some Taxa resembles that of the Gnetophyta . They had a Cuticula similar to that of other seed plants. Some male Sporangia ('' Gigantotheca '', '' Jiaochengia '') and Seed s ('' Gigantonomia '', '' Cornucarpus '') have been tentatively referred to this group. While the sporangia are certainly not flowers, they differ from other sporangia of Permian plants. Gigantopterid fossils were documented as early as , and the consolidation of all major Continent s into Pangea would have allowed for easy global dispersal. It is probable that the gigantopterids are a non- Monophyletic Form Taxon . Plant life from their era is very difficult to document and organize. They have been variously allied with the " Seed Fern s" (another Paraphyletic group of early seed plants) Peltaspermales and Callistophytales , '' Gnetum '', and the Magnoliophyta . All that can be said at present is that they were Spermatophyte s. Notable Genera
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