Coenopteridales

The Coenopteridales were an order of extinct ferns that existed during the Devonian and Carboniferous periods. These plants are often considered part of or equivalent to the subclass Primofilices.1

Preferns, including the Coenopteridales, are seen as transitional plants between the earliest land plants (psilophytes) and later ferns and seed-ferns. They appeared around 380 million years ago and lasted into the Early Permian Epoch. The Coenopteridales exhibited diverse growth forms, including creeping stems, erect tree-like trunks, and some even grew as vines. They possessed both simple and pinnate leaves, with the latter having pinnae arranged at an angle to the leaf blade.21