BY THE REY. J. E. TENISON-WOODS, F.G.S., F.L.S. 121 



species of Glossopteris have been described by Schlehan,* but as no 

 figures or descriptions were given Dr. F. doubts the identification 

 especially as in Tchiacheff's " Asie Mineure" (1867) they are not 

 mentioned by Ad. Brongniart, who described the fossil plants in 

 that work. But Schlehan was probably right, as R. Etheridge 

 recognized a species of Glossopteris amongst the fossils brought by 

 Admiral Spratt from the same coal formation.! It is remarkable 

 that this species {Glossopteris sphenopTiyllum) was found amongst 

 such a truly Carboniferous flora as Lepidodendron, Catamites, Sphen- 

 ophyllum, Neuropteris, Sigillaria, and Stigmaria, thus giving an 

 earlier origin to net-veined simple Ferns than was ever previously 

 claimed. 



In a monograph of the Tertiary Flora of Novale, Messrs. 

 "Visani and Massalongo have described a Glossopteris (G. apocyno- 

 phyllum), in which the figure and diagnosis well coincide with the 

 definition of Brongniart. i This is the latest stratum to which the 

 genus has been traced. Dr. Feistmantel throws a doubt on the 

 identification, but for no sufficient reason. 



The fructification of some species is known — all Indian fossils. 

 It consists of round sori in longitudinal rows between the margin 

 and midrib, which would indicate a relation to the living Poly- 

 podium. Mr. Carruthers, however, says that with regard to the 

 Australian species he thought he observed certain indications of a 

 fructification in the form of sori running along the vein nearer 

 the margin than midrib. Dr. Feistmantel thinks that this 

 would indicate a relation to Antrophyum, but that, I may observe, 

 has no midrib, and the veins, though reticulate, are uniform. 

 However, as Dr. F. justly remarks, the observation of Mr. Car- 

 ruthers is of the utmost importance, as it indicates that Glossopteris 

 browniana, of India, and the fossil which bears the same name in 

 Australia, are not only different species, but belong to ent 



* Versuch einer geognost. Beschreibung der Gegend zwischen Amasry 

 und Tyrla-Asy, 1852. 



f See Spratt and Etheridge on the coal-bearing deposits of Erekli, Q. Jour. 

 Geol. Soc, Lond., vol. 23 (1877), p. 524. 



X Mem. d'Acad. di Torino. 3 Ser., vol. 17. 



