GLOSSOPTERIS. 67 



specimens than in others. Zeiller 1 has also added an interesting 



figure of the epidermis and stomata of this type of frond as seen in 

 surface view. 



Brongniart's 2 original figure of this plant is inaccurately 

 drawn, as Banbury and others have pointed out. The secondary 

 nerves in this species anastomose throughout the lamina, and 

 are not, as shown by Brongniart, free for the greater part of 

 their course. Exact drawings of the nervation of the type-specimen 

 have been published recently by Zeiller 3 (Text-fig. 17). 



This type of frond was described originally by Brongniart 2 in 

 1828 as a variety of Glossopteris Brown/ana, but in 1869 Schiinper 4 

 raised it to specific rank, and this conclusion is maintained here. 



In 1876 Feistmantel 5 distinguished from G. indica certain fronds 

 of somewhat similar form under the name of G. communis, Feist., 

 which were stated to be larger and broader in habit, with 

 longer and narrower meshes close to the midrib. Zeiller 6 has, 

 however, shown in detail that none of these characters are 

 constant, and that it is impossible to separate these two fronds. 

 "With this conclusion 1 entirely agree. It may be also mentioned 

 that Zeiller 7 has instituted a most careful comparison between 

 G. Browniana and G. indica, bringing out clearly the essential 

 differences between these two species. 



Feistmantel 9 has distinguished some small leaves of this type as 

 G. communis, var. stenoneura, but in view of the great variation in 

 the size of these fronds it seems hardly necessary to adopt this name. 



Zeiller 9 has remarked that Feistmantel' s 10 species G. tmniop- 

 teroides, a large leaf from New South Wales with a very oblique 

 and close secondary nervation, is probably a frond of G. indica, and 

 I am of the same opinion. As he suggests, it is exceedingly like 

 some of the Indian fronds (cf. Zeiller (02 1 ), pi. iii, figs. 3, 3a) 

 which he has recently figured. 



The single specimen from the Lower Coal-measures at Greta, 



1 Zeiller (96 1 ), p. 3C8, fig-. 13. 2 Brongniart (28 2 ), p. 223, pi. lxii (pars). 



3 Zeiller (96'), p. 367, figs. 11, 12. 4 Schimper (69), vol. i, p. 645. 



5 Feistmantel (76 2 ), p. 37o. 6 Zeiller (96'), p. 368 ; (02 1 ), p. 8. 



' Zeiller (02 1 ), p. 12. * Feistmantel (80;, p. 99. 



9 Zeiller (02 1 ), p. 11. 10 Feistmantel (90), p. 128, pi. xviii, figs. 1, la. 



