EOCENE FERNS. 
57 
of plant, we may hope to trace its life-history. Thus, it can scarcely be doubted that we 
are already in possession of a series of modifications of the species of Lygodium now 
represented by L. pahnatmn, a form so distinct at the present day that it is the only type 
of one section of the genus, and the history of which, traced back to pre-Eocene times, is 
marked by slight but frequent modifications in the form of the barren fronds, while the 
fertile fronds have remained almost unchanged.* On the other hand we see, for example, 
that hardly any modification has taken place in Clirysodium aureum, and none is 
perceptible in Osnmnda Javanica since Eocene times. 
TABLE OF THE MORE DISTINCTIVE OF THE BRITISH EOCENE FERNS, WITH THEIR 
NEAREST FOSSIL AND EXISTING ALLIES, ARRANGED ACCORDING TO SIR W. 
HOOKER'S CLASSIFICATION. 
Sub-order I. 
GLEICHENIACE^. 
Genus Gleichenia. 
f G. Hantonensis 
Sub-order II. 
POLYPODIACE^. 
Trihe VI, Pteride^. 
Genus Jdiantum. 
A. apalopbyllum 
Sub-genus Hewardia. 
tH. regia ..... 
Genus Ptei'is. 
P. eocenica. (P. Gaudini, Heer, 
Osmunda (?) eocenica, Sap., 
&c.) 
P.Bournensis. (P. Aquensis, Sap., 
P. Qiningensis, Ung., and 
very many others) 
Tribe VII, BLECHNEyR. 
Genus Woodwardia. 
* W. Rcessneriana, Ung. (This,"\ 
although not a British fossil, I 
is tabulated in place of the ( 
more doubtful W. venosa) . 
Tribe XI, PoLYPODlyE. 
Sub-genus Goniopteris. 
* G.Bunburyi. (G. polypodioides, 
G. QHningense, A. Braun,&c.) 
In Europe. 
^ Pi 
Range of nearest existing representative 
(for details, consult Hooker's ' Synopsis 
Filicum.') 
f G. dichotoma, Tropics of Eastern 
1^ and Western hemispheres. 
A. capillus-veneris, Sub-tropical and 
S. temperate regions of Eastern 
and Western hemispheres. 
I H. Wilsoni, Tropics of Western 
hemisphere. 
P. eretica, Sub-tropical and S. tem- 
perate regions of Eastern and 
Western hemispheres. 
P. aquilina, Northern and temperate 
to tropical regions of Eastern and 
Western hemispheres. 
( W. raclicans, sub-tropics, Eastern 
\ and Western hemisphere. 
G. diversifolium. Tropics of Western 
hemisphere. 
* We are indebted to Count Saporta for information concerning the fertile fronds. 
