BY A. B. WALKOM. fiTn 



SO that in the absence of specimens having the cuticle well preserved, it is im- 

 possible to distinguisli between the genera Cnlaites and Noeggerathiopsis. In 

 view of Seward's account (Fossil Plants, iii., p. 243-4) of investigations by the 

 late Miss Ruth Holden, which indicate differences between the Gondwana Land 

 Noeggerathiopsis and the European Cordadtes. we prefer for the present to re- 

 tain the former name for the Australian examples. 



In his paper, quoted above, Etheridge did not discuss the speciiic identity 

 or otherwise of the Australian specimens of Xueggerathiopsis. 



As far as I know there is very little at present on which one could separate 

 the leaves specifically, and it seems best to refer them all to N. Hislopi (Bunb.l. 

 In none of the specimens so far described have any anatomical details been 

 made out, and the only characters on which separation has been based arc 

 variations in the shape and venation — the former not at all reliable and the 

 latter hardly any more so in this case. Species descril)ed as X. Sjtathulata 

 Dana, N. media (Dana), from the Upper Coal Measures and A', prison Feist- 

 mantel, from the Lower Coal Mea.sures do not appear to be sufficiently distinct 

 to be separated from the widely-known N. Hislopi. 



In describing a specimen from the Upper Coal Measures of New Soutli 

 Wales as N. Goepperti (Schmal. ) Arber (Quart. Jour. Geol. Soc, Ixviii.. 1902. 

 p. 20) says — "As regards the identity of .V. Hislopi (Hunl).). the representative 

 of this genus in India, South Africa, South America and also prol)al>ly in 

 Australia with A'. Goepperii, I have not been able to arrive at a definite con- 

 clusion. There is a great similarity of habit and detail between them." 



Though specimens showing clusters of leaves are so rare, examples of single 

 leaves are not uncommon in association witli the Glossopteris Flora in Australia, 

 both in tlie Lower anfl Upper Coal Measures. No well-autbenticated specimens 

 are known from newer rocks in Australia. 



Attention may here be drawn to a specimen recently assigned to this gen»'< 

 by Shirley (Q'land Naturalist, ii., 1920, p. 82). He describes a fragment from 

 the Ipswich Beds (Upi)er Triassic) at Albion, near Brisbane, Queensland, as n. 

 new species, iV. Tri/orii. I had an opportunity of examining the specimen (oF 

 which there is no tigiire and no record of the location of the type),* and my 

 notes, made at tlie time, show that I regarded it as a fragmentary piece of a 

 large Ginkgo or Baiera, showing two segments of the leaf close together with a 

 narrow band of matrix between them; tliis narrow band of matrix is what ha.s 

 been described as the midrib of .V. Tri/oiii. 



All the specimens, previously described, showing the radiate arrangement 

 of the leaves of Noeggerathiopsis were obtained from the Upper Coal Measures, 

 some from Newca.stle, the others from tlie Illawarra District. The specimen 

 described above, which was obtained from the Stanford Mertliyr Colliery, is the 

 first example from the Lower (Greta) (^oal Measures; it was foi-wai'ded to 

 Mr. Sussmilch by Mr. H. M. Williams, Superintendent of the Stanford Mcrthyr 

 Colliery, and is now in the collection of the Technological Museum, Newcastle. 



I am indebted to Air. Sussmilch for t1ie opportunity of describing the 

 specimen. 



EXPLANATION OF PLATE XXV. 



Specimen of Noeggerathiopsis. Hislopi (Bunb.) showing radiate arraugejuent of 

 the leaves, (x |)- 



• In a recent letter, Mr. H. A. Loniiman, Director of the Queensland Museum, 

 mentions tliat this type lias been presented to tlie Museum. 



