128 ON THE FOSSIL FLORA OF THE COAL DEPOSITS OF AUSTRALIA, 



At first sight this resembles M'Coy's G. spatulata, but on 

 examination the nerves are seen to be thicker and wider apart. 

 Locality, Bowenfels, New South Wales. 



Sagenopteris, Presl. 



Frond quaclri-lobate arising from a terete stipe, lobes free to the 

 base, articulate, deciduous, extremely variable even in the same 

 frond, being hastate, cul triform, rhomboidal, oblong- lanceolate, 

 and unsymmetrical, coriaceous, thickened at the articulation. Costa 

 immersed in the tissue at the base, but distinct towards the 

 middle : veins arising at an acute angle but diverging in ascend- 

 ing, anastomosing, forming a hexagonal rhomboidal network. 

 Epidermis unequally rectangular above, polygonally areolate below, 

 and pierced with stomata. 



Schimper regards this genus as an approach towards the Mar- 

 siliacese, even though the stomata exclude it from tl: ^ order. The 

 fern has no living analogue and stands quite alone in the extinct 

 cryptogamic flora. It is known only from the Lower Lias to the 

 Middle Oolite in Europe, and all Australian specimens are from 

 the Upper or Mesozoic coal basins of Ipswich Q. L., and 

 Jerusalem, Tasmania. 



Sagenopteris rhoifolia. Presl. in Sternberg. (Flora, d. Vorw., 

 11., p. 165, tab. xxxv., fig. 1. Schimper, vol. 1, p. 640, Tab. xliv., 

 fig. 2-8 ; Feist, op. cit. pi. xii., a., figs. 1-4-7. Frond very variable 

 both as to the shape and size. Pinnae narrow at the base, 

 articulate, spathulate, obovate, or oblong acuminate, rarely oblong 

 lanceolate or sub-rotundate, inequilateral, very rarely sub-symme- 

 trical, the middle leaves larger than the lateral ones, and quite 

 entire. Ordinary length about 32 mill., with a diameter of 

 16 mill. The internal margins of the lateral fronds somewhat 

 expanded, furnished here and ther? with a broad indistinct 

 dental lobe. 



This fern is identical with Goeppert's Acrostichites, Brongniart's 

 Glossopteris elongata, nilssoniana, and Fhylh'pteris nilssoniana as 

 also Minister's Glossopteris latifolia, ita. Schimper. It occurs in 

 the argillaceous schists of Bayreuth, Kulmbach, and Bamberg, 



