It is widely accepted that the gymnosperms originated in the late Carboniferous period, replacing the lycopsid rainforests of the tropical region. This development appears to have resulted from a whole genome duplication event around 319 million years ago.

When were gymnosperms found?

The gymnosperms originated about 319 million years ago, in the late Carboniferous.

Where are gymnosperms found?

Of some interest, gymnosperms include the tallest, the most massive, and the longest-living individual plants on earth. They are found throughout much of the earth, but form dominant vegetation in many colder and arctic regions.