Editing Forest (section)

== Evolutionary history ==
The first known forests on Earth arose in the [[Middle Devonian]] (approximately 390 [[Mya (unit)|million years ago]]), with the evolution of [[cladoxylopsid]] plants like ''[[Calamophyton]]''.<ref>{{cite journal|author=Davies, Neil S., McMahon, William J. and Berry, Christopher M.|year=2024|url=https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/166971/1/davies-et-al-2024-earth-s-earliest-forest-fossilized-trees-and-vegetation-induced-sedimentary-structures-from-the.pdf|title=Earth's earliest forest: fossilized trees and vegetation-induced sedimentary structures from the Middle Devonian (Eifelian) Hangman Sandstone Formation, Somerset and Devon, SW England|journal=Journal of the Geological Society|volume=181 |issue=4 |doi=10.1144/jgs2023-204|bibcode=2024JGSoc.181..204D |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240309154116/https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/166971/1/davies-et-al-2024-earth-s-earliest-forest-fossilized-trees-and-vegetation-induced-sedimentary-structures-from-the.pdf|archive-date=2024-03-09|url-status=live}}</ref> Appeared in the [[Late Devonian]], ''[[Archaeopteris]]'' was both tree-like and [[fern]]-like plant, growing to {{convert|20|m|ft}} in height or more.<ref name=Devonian>{{cite web|url=http://www.devoniantimes.org/opportunity/forests.html |title=The First Forests |website=Devonian Times |access-date=9 March 2024 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160510190820/http://www.devoniantimes.org/opportunity/forests.html |archive-date=10 May 2016}}</ref> It quickly spread throughout the world, from the equator to subpolar latitudes.<ref name=Devonian/> It is the first species known to cast shade due to its [[Frond|fronds]] and forming soil from its roots. ''Archaeopteris'' was [[deciduous]], dropping its fronds onto the forest floor, the shade, soil, and forest [[Plant litter|duff]] from the dropped fronds creating the early forest.<ref name=Devonian/> The shed organic matter altered the freshwater environment, slowing its flow and providing food. This promoted freshwater fish.<ref name=Devonian/>