NO. 1884 FOSSIL PLANTS — KNOWLTON 49I 



WOODWARDIA COLUMBIANA, sp. nov. 

 Plate LXIII, Figures i, 2 



Outline of whole frond unknown, though presumably the frond 

 was pinnate; pinnae lanceolate, apparently broadest at base, cut 

 nearly to the rachis into numerous, linear or lanceolate, acute- 

 pointed segments which are entire or rarely undulate-margined, and 

 separated by deep rounded sinuses; rachis strong; midvein or mid- 

 rib of segments relatively slender; veinlets forming a single row of 

 large, oblong, sorus-bearing areolae on either side of, and parallel to the 

 midrib, outside of which is a single series of smaller areolae oblique 

 to the midrib, the veinlets thence free to the margin ; sori linear or 

 oblong, in a chain-like row on either side of the midrib and attached 

 to the outer margin of the fruit-bearing areolae. 



Type: U. S. N. M. 7529 [pi. lxiii, fig. 1]; co-type, 7528 [pi. 

 LXIII, fig. 2]. 



Locality: Cascades of Columbia River, Oregon. 



Geological horizon: Pleistocene. 



This species is represented by a large number of specimens, two 

 of the best of which are here figured. Unfortunately all are in the 

 form of detached pinnae, so we are left in ignorance of the form 

 of the whole frond, though, following its analogy to what are obvi- 

 ously its nearest relations among the living species, it was without 

 much doubt pinnate, and must have presented an imposing appear- 

 ance when living. The most perfect pinna observed in the collection 

 is 14 cm. in length, but as this lacks both base and apex, considerable 

 being apparently missing at both points, it seems probable that the 

 length when perfect could hardly have been less than 18 or 20 cm. 

 The width of the pinnae is from 5 to 8 cm. As may be seen from 

 the figures, especially figure i, the pinnae are cut nearly to the 

 rachis into numerous linear or lanceolate, rather remote segments 

 which are separated by deep, broad, rounded sinuses. The margin 

 of the segments are entire or exceptionally undulate. The nervation, 

 which is fully described above and well shown in the figures, is 

 characteristically that of the section Buzvoodwardia of the living 

 species, which, to quote from Underwood,- has the "fronds uniform, 

 the veins forming at least one series of areolae between the sori and 

 margins." The sori, as beautifully shown in figure i, are oblong or 

 linear, and in a chain-like row on either side of the midrib, the 



Our Native Ferns and their Allies, 6th Ed., igoo, p. 102. 



