<p>by Susana M. Coelho</p> Zygnematophyceae are the closest algal relatives of land plants, yet their internal diversity has remained poorly sampled. A new study in PLOS Biology reveals deep radiations that reshape how we reconstruct the algal ancestry of plants. Zygnematophyceae are the closest algal relatives of land plants, yet their internal diversity has remained poorly sampled. This Primer explores a new study in PLOS Biology revealing deep radiations that reshape how we reconstruct the algal ancestry of plants.