Tracheophytes are vascular plants that has specialized vessels for water transport. They developed 400 million years ago. The earliest vascular plants had no roots, leaves, fruits, or flowers.
Vascular plants were the result of further adaptations that occurred due to the need for plants to transport food, water and minerals from areas of plenty or production to areas of need. Xylem tissue for transporting water and minerals, and phloem tissues for transporting food were developed (see How Plants Work?). Plants could also grow larger than before. They also became more rigid in order to grow upwards, so they could better compete for sunlight to be used in photosynthesis.
Vascular plants are divided into a further 2 groups which include Seed plants (plants which produce only spores) and Nonseed plants (plants which produce spores that develop seeds). The group includes ferns, conifers, and flowering plants.