116 NErROrTERIDIUM. 



Median nerve more or less distinct near the base of the pinnule, 

 dissolving into radiating, frequently dichotomising nerves at some 

 distance from the apex. 



Neuropteridium was originally established by Schimper as a 

 subgenus of Neuropteris for the reception of some fronds from 

 the Bunter rocks of the Yosges. More recently it has been raised 

 to generic rank as a convenient designation for certain fronds of 

 Pernio - Carboniferous and Triassic age, -which differ in several 

 important respects, especially in the simplv pinnate form of leaf, 

 from the well-known Neuropterids of the Pernio- Carboniferous 

 rocks of the Northern Hemisphere. 



Little is known with regard to the fructification of any member 

 of the genus. Zeiller 1 has stated that the Triassic fronds, 

 determined by Schimper & Mougeot 2 as Crematopteris, may 

 possibly be fertile pinnae of a Neuropteridium. The examples so 

 far available do not, however, offer any definite evidence as to the 

 structure of the sporangia. On the other hand, Seward 3 has 

 recently suggested that the entire absence of fertile leaves, similar 

 in type to Crematopteris, in association with Neuropteridium validum, 

 the representative of this genus in the Glossopteris flora, points 

 rather to the fact that these fronds may have borne reproductive 

 organs of the Gyrnnospernious and not of the Eilicinean type. 

 The same author has also compared the fronds of this genus with 

 those of Cardiopteris, and others from the Carboniferous rocks of 

 Europe. 



Distribution. — Permo- Carboniferous (Glossopteris flora) : — India, 

 in the Karharbari Beds; Cape Colony, in the Ecca Series; Brazil; 

 Argentina. 'Triassic (Northern Type) : — Bunter of the Yosges. 



Neuropteridium validum, Feistmantel. 

 (PL YI, Eig. 1 ; Text-fig. 28.) 



1869. Odontopteris riant iana, Carruthers, Geol. Mag., vol. vi, p. 155, pi. vi, 



figs. 2, 3. 

 1876. Neuropteris valida, Feistmantel, Eec. Geol. Surv. India, vol. ix, pt. 3, 



p. 75. 



1 Zeiller (00 1 ), p. 109. 



2 Schimper & Mougeot (44), pp. T^i, 7-1, pi. xxxv. 



3 Seward (03 1 ), p. si. 



