Plants Colonize the Land

What happened

Plants first moved onto land around 470 million years ago, beginning as small, simple forms and evolving roots, vascular tissue, and eventually towering trees. By the late Devonian, forests tens of metres tall covered parts of the land.

Why it matters

The greening of the continents transformed Earth's surface and atmosphere and created the first land-based ecosystems, opening the way for animals to follow.

Sources

• Natural History Museum. How trees changed the world · Reputable source