CHAPTER IX 



THE FERNS — continued 



The Botryopterideae — Summary on the Ferns 



I. Botryopterideae 



Among fossil plants generally, and in particular among 

 those which may still be regarded as Ferns, it is only 

 in rare cases that we are able to describe a plant as a 

 whole, giving a connected account of all its organs. 

 Where the evidence is such as to allow of even an 

 approach to this desirable end, the fossil-botanist must 

 regard himself as peculiarly fortunate. 



For this reason the family of the Botryopterideae 

 has long claimed a special interest among Palaeozoic 

 Filicales, for in two genera of this family the structure 

 of all the important organs is fairly well known, and 

 we have good evidence for connecting them together. 

 Within the last few years the interest in this group 

 has been greatly enhanced owing to the importance 

 which now attaches to authentic Palaeozoic repre- 

 sentatives of the class of Ferns, and especially to 

 such representatives as appear to have a primitive 

 character. 



305 20 



