The Osmundaceae (Filices) from the Cretaceous of South Africa: new species and revision

Abstract

Osmundaceae from the Cretaceous of South Africa have been studied and two new species of Osmundacaulis (Miller) emend. Tidwell: O. bamfordae and O. tidwellii are created while other South African Osmundaceae, previously known, viz. Osmundacaulis natalensis (Schelpe) Miller, Osmundacaulis atherstonei (Schelpe) Miller and Millerocaulis kolbei (Seward) Tidwell are critically revised; the unpublished species created by Erasmus, O. zululandensis is validated with a holotype and new specimens. O. stumkei, another of Erasmus’ species seems to be very similar to O. zululandensis, but its specimens have been lost.