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Which extinct Equisetopsida groups included shrubby, vinelike, and tree-sized plants?
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Equisetopsida
Giant horsetail of Europe (Equisetum telmateia).
Within the class Equisetopsida, several extinct groups exhibited diverse growth habits:
- Shrubby plants: The order Hyeniales included plants described as shrublike, characterized by inconspicuous leaves arranged in indistinct whorls.1
- Vinelike plants: The order Sphenophyllales consisted of extinct scrambling or vinelike understory plants.1
- Tree-sized plants: The family Calamitaceae, which belongs to the order Equisetales, included giant treelike horsetails such as the genus Calamites, which could reach heights of up to 30 metres (100 feet). Additionally, the extinct order Pseudoborniales contained the species Pseudobornia ursina, which grew to heights of 15 to 20 metres (50 to 65 feet).12