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telome theory

A Dictionary of Biology | 2004 | Copyright

telome theory The theory that the leaves (megaphylls) of ferns and seed plants evolved by the modification of terminal branches (telomes) of stems. It envisages that firstly, instead of the primitive equal (dichotomous) branching of the stem, there developed a main axis with lateral side branches. Next, each lateral branch system was restricted to one plane, instead of forming a three-dimensional pattern. Lastly, the spaces between the telomes in each lateral branch system were gradually filled in by webbing consisting of thin sheets of photosynthetic parenchymatous tissue. There is fossil evidence for this sequence of events occurring in certain trimerophytes and progymnosperms, notably in trees of the genus Archaeopteris, of the late Devonian period.

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telome theory

A Dictionary of Earth Sciences | 1999 | | Copyright

telome theory A hypothesis suggesting that the fern leaf arose from various rearrangements of branching stem systems.

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AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "telome theory." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. 1 Jun. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "telome theory." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. (June 1, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O13-telometheory.html

AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "telome theory." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Retrieved June 01, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O13-telometheory.html

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Free newspaper and magazine articles

	The telome theory. Magazine article from: The Botanical Review; 12/15/2005
	Introduction. Magazine article from: The Botanical Review; 12/15/2005