*Dear Gurchranji and ALL that would know about my question.... I received this picture and accompanying write up today from UBC.... the URL is http://www.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/potd/2011/10/osmunda-claytoniana.php
MY question is about the names: Osmunda claytoniana* the current name and *Osmunda claytoniites for the fossil... they claim is almost identical... My question is clayton- iana versus clayton- iites * * * * what does -iana depict that is different from -iites ????/ these spellings appear in one of the paragraphs in the above URL... I am copy pasting ithe paragraph below within quotation marks.... "Osmunda claytoniana* has the "oldest known fossil record of any living fern", and can be traced back to the Triassic period<http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/mesozoic/triassic/triassic.html>. This species can also be considered a living fossil<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osmunda_claytoniana>, because it appears almost identical to a fossil fern species from 200 million years ago, *Osmunda claytoniites*. It has gained the common name interrupted fern because of the appearance of its fronds, on which the brown fertile pinnae "interrupt" the green sterile pinnae<http://www.ct-botanical-society.org/ferns/osmundaclay.html>." end quote Thank you... In the mean time the rest may also enjoy the picture... fantastik, ain'nt it? Usha di ==============
