MuncJiester Memoirs, Vol. I. (1906), No. 10- 25 



detail, however, and attempt a more ambitious classifica- 

 tion, would be extremely unwise in view of the fact that 

 next to nothing is known of the foliage and fructification 

 of most members of the family. 



A plant was described in 1849 as a " Tubicaulis von 

 Ilia," and this Stenzel considers to be an Osiniindites, a 

 view which appears to be fully justified. He goes further, 

 however, and considers that " im Sinne Cotta's " it should 

 be associated with the Tubicaulis group, and he therefore 

 places Osmwidites after Bathypteris in the series, including 

 Zygopteris and many other Botryopterideae. The detail 

 of its woody structure, however, which does not agree 

 with that of the Botryopterideae, as well as the enormous 

 difference in time between the palaeozoic group and the 

 tertiary Osniundites, incline one to leave the two series 

 for the present less closely associated than they are in 

 Stenzel's table. 



When we turn to recent ferns, there appears to be 

 none which shows any close affinity with Ttibicaulis. It 

 is possible that through Zygopteris one may trace a family 

 connection with the Hymenophyllaceae, but there is no 

 direct likeness between them be}-ond a certain simplicity 

 in the anatomy of the main stele, and it is doubtful whether 

 that carries much weight. The small annulate sporangia 

 associated with the fossil suggest a Leptosporangiate form, 

 but without the foliage and sori one is at a disadvantage 

 in discussing affinity. 



Tracheides with multiseriate pits such as have been 

 noted in Tubicaulis are found in most members of the 

 group of the Botryopterideae, and they may well be of 

 more interest and value than has hitherto been allowed. 

 So far as I am aware they are not found among the living 

 ferns, in which the scalariform elements are so essentially 

 characteristic. On the other hand, well marked pits with 



