xxi] 



POLYPODIACEAE 



379 



shown in fig. 280, A and B, illustrate the difference in form 

 presented by leaves of this species ; the smaller pinnae repro- 

 duced in fig. A are more characteristic of the species than are 

 those of the slightly enlarged example represented in fig. 280, B. 





B 



Fio. 280. Onychiopsis Matitelli. (From Wealden specimens iu the British 

 Museum ; No. 13495 and No. V. 2615. A, natural size ; B, very 

 slightly enlarged.) 



Among British Tertiary species referred to Polypodiaceae, 

 it is interesting to find what inay well be an authentic record 

 of a fern clcsely allied to the recent tropical species Acrostichum 

 (Chrysodium) aureum. This Eocene species from Bournemouth 

 is described as Chrysodium lanzaeanuniK The frond is simply 

 pinnate and apparently coriaceous in texture, with lanceolate or 

 oblong lanceolate pinnules (fig. 261, A, A', p. 3-50), differing from 

 those of Acrostichum aureum in being sessile. A prominent 

 ' Gardner and Ettingshausen (82) Pis. i. ii. 



