376 



FILICALES 



[CH. 



of Polypodiaceous ferns. On the other hand, as we have already 

 noticed, anatomical characters of such families as the Gleicheni- 

 aceae, Hymenophyllaceae, and Schizaeaceae are met with in 

 certain generalised Palaeozoic types. These facts are perhaps 

 of some importance as supplying collateral evidence in favour of 

 the relatively more recent origin of the dominant family of 

 ferns in modern floras. 



The use of the generic name Adiantites for fern-like 

 fronds of Lower Carboniferous age characterised by cuneate 



Fig. 279. A. Adiantides antiquns (Ett.). (J nat. size.) 

 B. A. Lindsayoides (Sew.). (B' nat. size.) 

 (A, after Kidston.) 



pinnules like those of species oi Adiantum, suggests an affinity 

 which is in all probability non-existent. It has been pointed 

 out that this generic name was applied in the first instance to 

 the leaves of the Jurassic plant Ginkgo digitata^ and should, 

 therefore, be discarded. Schimper- used the designation 

 Adiantides, and Ettingshausen^, more rashly than wisely, pre- 

 ferred Adiantum. The specimens described by Kidston* as 



' Goeppert (30) A. p. 217. 

 ■'' Ettingshaufen (66). 



= Schimper (69) A. p. 424. 

 ■* Kidston (89^) PI i. 



