The evolution of the first forests in the Devonian

In recent years much new data have been obtained regarding the earliest trees, and their ecology in early forest ecosystems. Aspects of this new data are summarised below, concentrating on the Mid Devonian and earliest Late Devonian, c. 390-380 million years ago, before the dominance of Archaeopteris . The arborescent cladoxylopsids, archaeopteridaleans and lycopsids are considered, as well as the recumbent but large woody aneurophytes. Until now, cladoxylopsid dominated forests, cladoxylopsid/aneurophyte forests, early Archaeopteris , and lycopsid forests are the four forest types identified, largely on the basis of near coastal, wet environments. True in situ fossil forests are extremely rare during this time interval. Future research aims to identify further forest types, to better understand their relationship to palaeogeography and sedimentary environment, and to spread the understanding of early forests beyond the Old Red continent.