Mapping cell biological data onto the recently established phylogenetic tree suggests that centrosomes were lost repeatedly in the phragmoplastophyta. The phragmoplast as a Mapping cell biological data onto the recently established phylogenetic tree suggests that centrosomes were lost repeatedly in the phragmoplastophyta. The phragmoplast as a device for dividing the cell was lost or reduced in the Zygnematophyceae, for dividing the cell was lost or reduced in the Zygnematophyceae,many of which returned to cleavage mechanisms secondarily. Because the phragmoplast was established first, and the PPB of microtubules was introduced later, the interesting question arises of how early phragmoplasts became aligned (e.g., in Chara or Coleochaete)? It is reasonable to speculate that an early ‘cryptic’ alignment mechanism successively transformed into the PPB, for example by engaging cortical microtubules in cell division. Interestingly