XVI International Botanical Congess

A robust phylogeny for green plants remains a challenge. But, it is clear that: not all chl a & b-containing algae" are green algae, charophycean algae gave rise to land plants, chlorophycean & charophycean lineages sensu Pickett-Heaps are well supported, several prasinophyte lineages (1 perhaps charophycean) exist, for chlorophycean algae, in many analyses ulvophytes are basal & trebouxiophytes & chlorophytes are sister taxa, extant land plants, vascular plants, conifers, seed plants & flowering plants are monophyletic. Various studies have supported virtually all arrangements of charophycean lineages & the Coleochaetales & Charales are likely the closest land plant relatives. Phylogeny of bryophyte lineages remains problematic. Ancient rapid radiations among green plant lineages are a special challenge.