Ferns first appear in the fossil record about 360 million years ago in the late Devonian period, but many of the current families and species did not appear until roughly 145 million years ago in the early Cretaceous, after flowering plants came to dominate many environments.
Fosil paku sané pinih tua ingih punika saking masa Devon, kirang langkung 360 yuta warsa[6] sané lintang sakéwanten suku-suku miwah soroh-soroh modern wawu wénten kirang langkung 145 yuta warsa sané lintang ritkala tetanduran sané masekar sampun mendominasi vegetasi gumi.