Pityaceae

fossil plant family

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July 1, 2026

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The Pityaceae family is an extinct group of fossil plants that were dominant during the Carboniferous Period, approximately 359 to 299 million years ago. These plants are considered early relatives of modern conifers.1

The Pityaceae, along with the Poroxylaceae, are thought to be more primitive than the Cordaitaceae family and share characteristics with seed ferns (pteridosperms). They are provisionally grouped with the Cordaitales order until further evidence clarifies their exact placement.1

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Cordaitales
Three families are 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…
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Three families are 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…
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