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Nature 410, 352-354 (15 March 2001) | doi:10.1038/35066546;

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Evolution of leaf-form in land plants linked to atmospheric CO2 decline in the Late Palaeozoic era

The widespread appearance of megaphyll leaves, with their branched veins and planate form, did not occur until the close of the Devonian period at about 360|[thinsp]|Myr ago. This happened about 40|[thinsp]|Myr after simple leafless vascular plants first colonized the land in the Late Silurian/Early Devonian, but the reason for the slow emergence of this common feature of present-day plants is presently unresolved.

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