GI.OSSOPTEKIS. 47 



subspecies. It is to be doubted whether there is any real gain 

 in so doing, when the classification is necessarily artificial. The 

 shorter, and less cumbersome name is an argument in favour of 

 maintaining only specific rank. 



In the present instance, I have endeavoured to group together 

 these fronds as broadly as possible, and without distinction of 

 subspecies or varieties. In this manner, it has been possible to 

 reduce the number of specific determinations to thirteen. This 

 classification is not by any means to be regarded as final. Although 

 a large number of species have been founded, especially by 

 Feistmantel, often on too fragmentary evidence, or on the occur- 

 rence of a single example, which are not recognised here, it is quite 

 possible that, in some cases, the discovery of further, or better 

 preserved evidence may be sufficient to establish their specific rank. 

 In many instances, it has been a matter of the greatest difficulty 

 to decide whether a certain frond is sufficiently distinct to warrant 

 separation, especially as, in the great majority of cases, no examples 

 of the rarer specimens, previously determined by other authors, are 

 available for comparison in any museum in this country. 



Synopsis of Species of Glas&opteris. 



I. Type of Ghssopteris Brouniana. Meshes of medium breadth, or narrowly 



elongate, midrib persistent. 



(1) Leaves spathulate, sub-oval, or linear ; obtuse ; meshes of medium breadth. 



1. G. Browniana, Brong. 



(2) Leaves lanceolate, or linear ; acute, or acuminate. 



a. Meshes very narrow, elongate, not as a rule markedly broader on the 

 borders of the midrib than in the rest of the lamina. 

 Frond large, elongate-lanceolate or oval-lanceolate. 



2. G. indica, Schimper. 

 Frond of medium size, narrow, linear. 3. G. angustifolia, Brong. 

 /3. Meshes very narrow, elongate, except on either side of the midrib, 

 where they are comparatively broad and polygonal. 



Frond large, lanceolate. 4. G. stricta, Bunb. 



(3) Leaves large, broadly obovate, obtuse, or emarginate ; midrib thick, 



nerves very close and subparallel, and meshes narrow, except near the 

 midrib. 5. G. ampla, Daua. 



II. Type of Glossoptiri* retifera. Meshes very broad, midrib persistent. 

 Frond of medium size, lanceolate or oval-lanceolate. Meshes not much longer 



than broad. 6. G. retifera, Feist. 



Frond fairly large, spathulate or oval-lanceolate. Meshes elongate-polygonal, 



much longer than broad. 7. G. conspicua, Feist. 



Frond linear. Meshes broad, oblong-polygonal. S. G.fomwsa, Feist. 



