Life
Plants colonise land
The continents turn green for the first time
See it on the timeline →In depth
The first land plants were small and needed moisture, but they carried fungal partners in their roots — a partnership still present in most plants today. The consequences were enormous: roots and organic acids accelerated the chemical weathering of bedrock, which drew CO₂ out of the atmosphere and cooled the climate. At the same time soil built up, creating a whole new food base that animals soon followed onto land.
For children
Until now the land was bare rock and sand. Then small moss-like plants began to grow at the water's edge. Slowly they spread inland, made soil — and turned the continents green.
Connects to
Part of Terra Saga — the story of Earth on a timeline. terrasaga.org