Gnetophyta 

(/nɛˈtɒfɪtə, ˈnɛtoʊfaɪtə/) is a division of plants (alternatively considered the

order Gnetales), grouped within the gymnosperms (which also includes conifers, cycads,
and ginkgos), that consists of some 70 species across the
three relict genera: Gnetum (family Gnetaceae), Welwitschia (family Welwitschiaceae),
and Ephedra (family Ephedraceae). Fossilized pollen attributed to a close relative of Ephedra has
been dated as far back as the Early Cretaceous.[1] Though diverse in the Early Cretaceous, only
three families, each containing a single genus, are still alive today. The primary difference between
gnetophytes and other gymnosperms is the presence of vessel elements, a system of conduits that
transport water within the plant, similar to those found in flowering plants. Because of this,
gnetophytes were once thought to be the closest gymnosperm relatives to flowering plants, but more
recent molecular studies have brought this hypothesis into question.
Though it is clear they are all related, the exact evolutionary inter-relationships between gnetophytes
are unclear. Some classifications hold that all three genera should be placed in a
single order (Gnetales), while other classifications say they should be distributed among three
separate orders, each containing a single family and genus. Most morphological and molecular
studies confirm that the genera Gnetum and Welwitschia diverged from each other more recently
than they did from Ephedra.[2][3][4][5][6]