The pteridophytes (ferns and fern-allies) have been subdivided along a variety of different lines. The principal point of contention between various schemes for dividing pteridophytes above the family level seems to be at what point in the hierarchy are distinctions to be made. Different taxonomic systems treat the the equisetophytes as a single phylum within the group of ferns and fern-allies, or as a division or subphylum.