Schenk[870], who described several specimens of Laccopteris from Rhaetic rocks of Germany, compared the genus with Gleichenia but he also recognised the close resemblance to Matonia pectinata. Zeiller[871] first established the practical identity of the sori and sporangia of Laccopteris and Matonia. The Rhaetic species, such as L. Muensteri, L. elegans, and L. Goepperti, agree very closely with L. polypodioides and need not be described in detail.
Fig. 264. Laccopteris elegans (Presl). (From a specimen in the British Museum; from the Lower Keuper of Bayreuth, Germany. Nat. size; part of pinnule × 3.)
The Rhaetic species Laccopteris elegans, represented in [fig. 264], illustrates the characteristic habit of the genus and shows a feature usually overlooked[872], namely the occurrence of anastomoses between the lateral veins. The form of the sorus of another Rhaetic species is shown in [fig. 265], E. Schenk figures an interesting series of fronds of L. Goepperti in different stages of growth[873]; one of the younger leaves is seen in [fig. 265], D. An examination of Rhaetic specimens of Laccopteris in the Bergakademie of Berlin convinced me of the correctness of the published descriptions of the sori.
Fig. 265.
- Matonidium Wiesneri. (Slightly enlarged.)
- Marattiopsis marantacea. (Slightly enlarged.)
- Gleichenites gracilis. (Slightly enlarged.)
- Laccopteris Goepperti. (Slightly reduced.)
- L. Muensteri. (Enlarged.)
(A, after Krasser; B, C, after Leuthardt; D, E, after Schenk.)
Laccopteris polypodioides (Brongniart). Figs. [266–268]; [278], A.
| 1828. | Phlebopteris polypodioides[874], Brongniart, Hist. vég. foss. p. 372, Pl. LXXXIII. fig. 1. |
| — | P. propinqua, ibid. Pls. CXXXII. fig. 1, CXXXIII. fig. 2. |
| 1829. | Pecopteris caespitosa, Phillips, Geol. Yorks. p. 148, Pl. VIII. fig. 10. |
| — | P. crenifolia, ibid. Pl. VIII. fig. 10. |
| — | P. ligata, ibid. Pl. VIII. fig. 14. |