54 PKOCEEDINGS OF THE 



Vascular Cryptogams," tlie position becomes altered, and the 

 question is one that should engage the attention of Botanists. 

 When it is borne in mind that, so far as the geological record 

 goes, seed-bearing plants (Cordaiteae) are of at least equal age 

 with true Ferns, the perplexities of the situation become 

 manifest. 



Another question upon which an expression of opinion would 

 be valuable, is whether the A^■hole group of Gymnospernis may be 

 regarded as having been evolved along the Fern-Cycad line, or 

 whether, on the other hand, some of them at least may have had 

 a quite distinct origin. 



Palaeobotanical work has shown that in the Lycopod phj-lum 

 seed-like structures were occasionally produced, and this discovery 

 no doubt seems to strengthen what has always been a possibility, 

 viz., that a portion of the Gymnosperms may have had its origin 

 alouo- this line. 



III. 



On the Earlier Geological Eecord of the True Ferns. 

 By E. A. Newell Arbee, M.A., F.L.S., F.G.S. 



[Eead 15th March, 1906.] 



It is evident that the Palaeozoic Pteridosperms exhibit, both in 

 their habit and anatomy, marked characters in common with the 

 true Ferns, and it is therefoi*e regarded as more than probable 

 that they sprang from a Fern-like stock. Thus the Fern line of 

 descent must be geologically older than the Pteridosperms. Yet 

 the recent discoveries as to the nature of the male and female 

 fructifications of these Fern-like, seed-bearing plants have tended 

 in part to obliterate, and in part to cast strong suspicion upon, 

 much that was formerly regarded as undeniable evidence of the 

 existence of the true Ferns in the Palaeozoic Period, 



There is, however, every reason to believe that true Ferns did 

 exist in Carboniferous and Permian times. The Botryopteridese, 

 and certain unassigued fronds bearing annulate sporangia were 

 among the chief representatives. But it is doubtful whetlier the 

 Palaeozoic Ferns were clearly and generally differentiated into 

 Eusporangiatae and Leptosporangiatae. In the fossil state we have 

 naturally no evidence as to the development of the sporangia, 

 and further, the biseriate or multiseriate annulus of Palaeozoic 

 sporangia does not agree with that of modern Leptosporangiate 

 spore-bearing organs. It would thus seem better to regard the 

 Palaeozoic Ferns as a separate class, from which both the Lepto- 

 sporangiatae and Eusporangiatae were eventually derived. The name 

 Primofilices is suggested to denote this race ; since the preferable 

 terms, Archaeopterideae and Palieopterideae, are not available. The 



