Voltziales is an extinct order of

conifer Conifers () are a group of conifer cone, cone-bearing Spermatophyte, seed plants, a subset of gymnosperms. Scientifically, they make up the phylum, division Pinophyta (), also known as Coniferophyta () or Coniferae. The division contains a sin ...

s. The group contains the ancestral lineages from which modern conifer groups emerged. Voltzialean conifers are divided into two informal groups, the primitive "walchian conifers" like '' Walchia,'' where the ovuliferous cone is composed of radial shoots and the more advanced "voltzian voltziales", also known as "transitional conifers" where the cone is composed of fertile scales with sessile seeds, like those of modern conifers. Walchian conifers generally grew as small trees. The earliest walchian conifers are known from the Middle Pennsylvanian ( Moscovian). The youngest walchian conifers are known from the

Late Permian Late or LATE may refer to: Everyday usage * Tardy, or late, not being on time * Late (or the late) may refer to a person who is dead Music * ''Late'' (The 77s album), 2000 * Late (Alvin Batiste album), 1993 * Late!, a pseudonym used by Dave Groh ...

. The earliest "voltzian voltziales" are known from the late Early Permian ( Kungurian). Modern conifer lineages emerged from voltzialean ancestors from the Late

Permian The Permian ( ) is a geologic period and System (stratigraphy), stratigraphic system which spans 47 million years, from the end of the Carboniferous Period million years ago (Mya), to the beginning of the Triassic Period 251.902 Mya. It is the s ...

Jurassic The Jurassic ( ) is a Geological period, geologic period and System (stratigraphy), stratigraphic system that spanned from the end of the Triassic Period million years ago (Mya) to the beginning of the Cretaceous Period, approximately 143.1 Mya. ...

. Voltzialean conifers outside modern groups such as '' Krassilovia''/'' Podozamites'' survived into the

Cretaceous The Cretaceous ( ) is a geological period that lasted from about 143.1 to 66 mya (unit), million years ago (Mya). It is the third and final period of the Mesozoic Era (geology), Era, as well as the longest. At around 77.1 million years, it is the ...

, before becoming extinct. The genus '' Voltzia'' was named in honour of the French geologist Philippe Louis Voltz.

Taxonomy

* Utrechtiaceae * Thucydiaceae * Voltziaceae * Emporiaceae * Majonicaceae * Ullmanniaceae * Bartheliaceae * Ferugliocladaceae * Buriadiaceae * Krassiloviaceae

Taxonomy

List of genera

References

External links