86 QSMUNDACE^. 



pinnules, the more numerous veins, and the greater number and 

 smaller size of the sori. Laccopteris Woodwardi is represented in 

 the English rocks by single detached pinnules, and no examples 

 occur comparable in size and preservation to the fronds of 

 L. polypodioides figured in Plates XII. and XIII. 



V. 217 (Text-fig. HA) and V. 25220. Fragments of fertile 

 pinnules showing the characteristic small circular sori and the 

 numerous veins given off at a wide angle from the areolse. 



Upper Shale, Gristhorpe Bay. Purchased. 



40,670. Numerous fragments ; the broadest of which has 

 a breadth of 7mm. Bean Coll. 



Family OSMUKDACE^E. 



Genus TODITES. 



The term Todites is employed in preference to the recent generic 

 name Todea, which has been used by some authors, on the ground 

 that we are here dealing with a fossil type which it is inadvisable 

 to designate by the name which is applied to recent ferns. The 

 sporangial characters and the form of the frond afford satisfactory 

 evidence not only of Osmundaceous affinities, but lead us to regard 

 the fossils as very closely allied to the recent fern, Todea larlara, 

 Moore. 



The generic name Todeopsis has been employed by Eenault * for 

 some sporangia from the Culm of d'Esnost which in the form of the 

 annulus recall those of Todea. Considering the great difference in 

 age between Kenault's specimens and the Lower Oolite fern, and 

 the absence of decisive evidence as to the affinity of the French 

 fossils, it is probably wiser to employ a distinct name for the 

 Jurassic Osmundaceous fern. 



Eenault (96), p. 21. 



