Figure 3.

A model of phylogenetic relationships among green algae (Chlorophyta), charophyceans (Charophyceae), and land plants (embryophytes), based on sequence data for ribosomal, Rubisco, and other genes (references cited in ref. 14). Monophyly of embryophytes is well supported by molecular data and several structural autapomorphies (23), including presence of a multicellular sporophyte. Monophyly of other terminal taxa is less well established, the group labeled “early divergent flagellates” (prasinophyceans) is not monophyletic, and the time of Mesostigma's divergence is uncertain.