MARYLAND GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 763 



those running distad are all simple except the basal one which is some- 

 times forked, those running proximad are usually once forked; texture 

 thick and coriaceous. 



This species is close to G. gracilis Heer, but the venation differs in the 

 number of veins and their habit of forking. It was described from Cliff- 

 wood Bluff on Earitan Bay, and has also been recorded from Kinkora on 

 the Delaware River. It is known only from the Magothy formation. 



Occurrence. MAGOTHY FORMATION. Bound Bay, Anne Arundel 

 County. 



Collection. Maryland Geological Survey. 



Family OSMUNDACEAE 



Genus OSMUNDA Linne 

 [Sp. PI., 1753, p. 1063] 



OSMUNDA DELAWARENSIS Berry 

 Plate L, Figs. 2-4 



Osmunda delawarensis Berry, 1906, Bull. Torrey Bot. Club, vol. xxxiii, p. 



164, pi. viii, figs. 2-4. 

 Osmunda delawarensis Berry, 1907, Md. Geol. Survey, vol. vi, pi. xx, fig. 17. 



Description. Fronds pinnate. Pinnae simple, alternate, elongate, 

 linear-lanceolate, inequilateral at the base. Borders undulate, very 

 slightly crenulate ; frond substance thick. Pinnae 7.5 cm. long, 5-6 mm. 

 wide near the base, tapering to a long narrow point, closely resembling 

 the sterile pinnae of Osmunda presliana J. Smith of the east and south 

 Asiatic region, except that the latter has a narrowed base, while the pres- 

 ent species has a large base, more like that in Osmunda regalis Linne. 



Whether the larger specimen figured is a pinnule of a bipinnate form 

 like the modern cosmopolitan " Eoyal Fern " it is impossible to judge 

 from the material thus far collected. 



The Osmundacece are rather common and widespread in the older Meso- 

 zoic, represented by structural material as well as frond genera such as 

 Todites, etc. Various fossil species have been referred to Osmunda or 

 Osmundites, including two or three forms from the Lower Cretaceous 

 described by Fontaine from Virginia and showing supposed fructification. 

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