Definition

A type of simple plant that branched in two directions and is one of the oldest known land plants, lacking true leaves and roots.

Example

Psilophytes are among the earliest plants to have developed vascular tissue.

Conversation

I just read about this ancient plant called a psilophyte in my biology book.

Oh really? What makes it so interesting?

It’s one of the oldest land plants and doesn't have true leaves or roots.

That’s fascinating! I love learning about how plants adapted over time.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Psilophyte is formed from "psilo-" (from Greek "psilos", meaning bare or bald) and "phyton" (from Greek "phyton", meaning plant). The word refers to a type of plant that is simple and lacks complex structures, hence the meaning of a bare or primitive plant.

Memory Tip

Think of 'bare' ('psilo-') plants that are simple and lack complexity, which helps you remember that a psilophyte is a primitive type of plant.

Visually Confused Words