Lycophyta Phylum Lycophyta Return to phylum directory Phylum including three living families. This is an ancient lineage with fossil members dating from the Devonian. Microphylls have only one vein and are not associated with a leaf gap. They are thought not to be homologous to macrophylls found in ferns and all the groups of seed plants.
Roots are adventitious.
Branching in both shoot and root occurs by the division of the apical meristem into two parts which can either be equal or with one subordinate and one superior branch. Living members are all herbaceous although Isoetes has secondary growth.