Cordaitaceae

fossil plant family

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Last updated

June 24, 2026

Quick Summary

The Cordaitaceae were a family of fossil plants that were prominent during the Carboniferous Period, approximately 359 to 299 million years ago. These plants are closely related to modern conifers.1

Key characteristics include:
* Form: Many were trees reaching up to 30 meters (100 feet) tall, with branched structures topped by large, leathery, strap-shaped leaves.1
* Genus: The most well-known genus within this family is Cordaites.12
* Habitat: Cordaites plants grew in diverse environments, from swampy areas to drier inland regions, often found on floodplains.3
* Reproduction: Their reproductive structures were similar to early conifers, featuring pollen sacs and ovules.3

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Cordaitales
included—Pityaceae, Poroxylaceae, and Cordaitaceae—of which the Cordaitaceae is the best known. Its genera Cordaites and Cordaianthus are represented by fossil leaves, branches, and loosely formed cones, investigations of which have led to the formulation of the cordaite-conifer evolutionary sequence through the primitive conifer family Lebachiaceae (see Lebachia). The…
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included—Pityaceae, Poroxylaceae, and Cordaitaceae—of which the Cordaitaceae is the best known. Its genera Cordaites and Cordaianthus are represented by fossil leaves, branches, and loosely formed cones, investigations of which have led to the formulation of the cordaite-conifer evolutionary sequence through the primitive conifer family Lebachiaceae (see Lebachia). The…
Read More