Early land plant debris (Hooker's "waifs and strays"?)

Information derived from Ordovician to Devonian phytodebris is discussed in terms of its utility in phylogenetic, biostratigraphic, paleoecologic and biogeographic studies. Several preparation techniques are described. Studies of latest Ordovician through Early Devonian land plant phytodebris have been important in addressing the origin of early land plants, in making taxonomic distinctions at the species through ordinal levels, and in documenting the phyletic radiation of early land plants. Biostratigraphic, biogeographic, and paleoecologic applications are more limited, although Ordovician-Silurian phytodebris may ultimately provide biostratigraphic control, especially of terrestrial sediments, and younger entities can indicate timing of major events or enhance floristic information for a given region. The potential to obtain information from these remains for systematic, biostratigraphic, biogeographic, and paleoecological applications is great.