Pteridospermae is a group of extinct seed plants that first appeared in the Devonian period and became abundant in the Carboniferous period. These plants had frond-like leaves, and their seeds were contained in structures called seed ferns. Some synonyms for Pteridospermae include "seed ferns," "pteridosperms," and "transitional plants." These terms describe the evolutionary position of these plants between ferns and gymnosperms. Additionally, Pteridospermae are sometimes referred to as "fossil ferns" or "fern allies" due to their fern-like appearance. Despite their extinction, Pteridospermae played a crucial role in the world's ecosystem and the evolution of plants as we know them today.