72 Annals of the South African Museum. 



membranous border of the linear segments. On the other hand,. 

 Saporta describes the fossils as having an " evidently coriaceous 

 texture," * and he suggests the probability of Steyiopteris being more 

 closely allied to the cycads than to the ferns. We may provisionally 

 make use of Saporta's generic name, noting the absence of a well- 

 defined median vein, a character included in the diagnosis of the 

 genus as represented by the type Stenoptcris desmomera of Kimeridge 

 age. 



Some figures published by Feistmantel under the name Palissya t 

 bear a resemblance to Stenopteris elongata, but the Indian and African 

 plants are probably not identical. A comparison may also be sug- 

 gested between the specimen shown in fig. 3, pi. vii., and Feistmantel's 

 figure of Pachyphyllum {Cnjptomerites) divaricatum,l but there is- 

 no evidence of the individuality of the ultimate branches in the 

 African specimens suggesting their identity with the leaves of 

 Cryptomerites. 



Such specimens as that shown in fig. 2, pi. vii., might be expected 

 to show indications of nodal regions. The appearance of the fragments 

 recalls that of a xerophytic shrubby plant with branch-like leaves or 

 with branches which played the part of leaves, as in the recent genus 

 Psilotmn. 



A plant of somewhat similar form, but not identical, has been 

 described from English Wealden strata as Becklesia anomala. § 



Another genus comparable with Carruthers' Sphenopteris elongata 

 is Schenk's Frenelopsis, but the well-marked nodal regions in that, 

 genus afford a distinguishing feature. 



Plate VII., fig. 2 (21e). 



A branched axis 11 cm. long, of woody texture. I can detect no 

 distinct trace of a single median rib, but here and there a slight 

 indication of a central ridge or depression may be seen. No trace of 

 leaves or of nodal lines or constrictions. None of the branches 

 are complete. 



Plate VII., figs. 3 and 3ft (B.) 



A graphitic impression on a dark slaty rock. The axis of the^ 

 lateral branches is represented by a fairly distinct median rib, but in 

 the ultimate segments, which are for the most part entire but in 

 a few instances lobed, there is no median vein. Fig. 3« shows aa 



* Saporta (73), p. 290, pi. xxxii. t Feistmantel (76), pis. xi. and xii. 



+ Feistmantel (76), pi. x. fig. 1. § Seward (95), p. 179, pi. xiv. 



