106 GANGAMOrTERIS. 



Frond fairly broad, obovate, broadly elliptical, oval-lanceolate, 

 or almost elongate-lanceolate, symmetrical or asymmetrical. Apex 

 broadly rounded, or obtusely pointed. Frond somewhat contracted 

 towards tbe base ; basal angles sometimes auriculate. Nerves 

 radiating from the base and from a few sub-parallel median nerves, 

 forming meshes, longer and broader in the central portion of the 

 frond, but narrower towards the margin. Sometimes the meshes 

 in the basal portion of the frond are broader and more polygonal 

 than those of the rest of the lamina. 



The fronds of this species vary greatly in shape and size, 

 although the nervation is remarkably constant in the different 

 varieties or forms. In some of the broader and more obtuse 

 leaves figured by Feistrnantel, the meshes appear to be slightly 

 broader or more open than in certain of the narrower and more 

 pointed leaves, but this distinction does not appear, judging from 

 his figures, always to hold good. 



I regard McCoy's l G. obliqua, and possibly also G. spatulata, 

 as identical with the Indian fronds included here under this 

 species. If this be the case, one of his specific names should, 

 strictly speaking, have priority over Feistmantel's G. cyclopteroides, 

 but the latter term has become so widely known that I have 

 hesitated to make any change. 



The specimen figured by Carruthers as Nqeggerathia obovata has 

 been regarded by Zeiller 2 as possibly identical with Euryphyllwm 

 Wittianum. A re-examination of it has, however, shown that, 

 although the preservation is far from good, there can be no doubt 

 as to the evidence that the nerves anastomose with one another, 

 and consequently this plant is a Gangamopteris, and may probably 

 be referred to this species (see pp. 111-113). 



Several of Feistmantel's species of Gangamopteris appear to be 

 indistinguishable from G. cyclopteroides. The fragmentary fronds 

 named by him G. Hughesi 3 differ only in the meshes of the 

 nervation being somewhat larger than usual, and seem to me to be 

 unworthy of separate specific rank. The very imperfect fragment 

 named G. anthrophyoides* furnishes quite inadequate evidence on 



1 McCoy (74). - Zeiller (95 1 ), p. 963 ; (95 2 ), p. 616, pi. x. 



3 Feistmantel (80), p. 100, pi. xliii a, figs. 6-8. 



4 Feistmantel (80), p. 108, pi. xxxixa, fig. 8; (86), p. 31, pi. va, fig. 4. 



