News > Scientists Reconstruct First-evolved Plant Roots Using 400-million-year-old Fossil

Scientists Reconstruct First-evolved Plant Roots Using 400-million-year-old Fossil

Rhynie chert, a sedimentary deposit remarkably preserved a number of plant species dating back to some 400 million years ago. The most complex plant found in the chert was Asteroxylon mackie, one of the earliest known plant species that had roots.

Now, using 3D reconstruction, scientists have demonstrated how the plant formed roots and developed root axes. The evolution of roots at the time was a big change as it brought a transformative change in climate and ecology.