250 Transactions. — Geology. 



^.-DESCRIPTION OF SPECIES OF THE TERTIARY 

 FLORA OF NEW ZEALAND. 



KoTE.— The correct localities and authorities for the collection of the Bpecinifnn 

 have been inserted tvithin square brackets.— J. Hectob. 



CEYPTOGAMiE. 



FILICES. 

 Lomariopsis dunstanensis, sp. nov. 



Plate XXIV., figs. 1, 2, 2a. 



L. fronde coriacea jjinnata, piniiis linearibus elongatis, 

 eirca 14mm. latis, margine subtilissime crenulatis ; ncrvatioyit 

 TcEnioptericlis, nervo primario firmo, recto ; nervis secundariis 

 angulo szibrecto egrcdicntihus, tenuibus, approximatis paullo 

 arcuatis, parallcUs s{m2)licibus vel furcatis, craspedodromis, 

 Ivim. inter se remotis. 



Locality : Dunstan (Otago Museum). {Ex Coll. Geol. 

 Surv. Otago, 1864 ; Hector.] 



I have before me two pinnate fragments, from which I 

 infer a linear elongated shape of the pinnge, and which indicate 

 a leathery texture. The edge is very delicately notched ; the 

 secondary nerves, which are delicate yet boldly defined, run 

 into the notches ; these nerves show the arrangement of 

 Taniojytcris, and are either simply divided at their origin, or 

 a short distance above it, in a fork-like manner. The primary 

 nerve is propoi'tionately stout, and contains a fine middle rib 

 (see fig. 2a). I observe on the upper part of the frond in 

 various places a number of closely-situated black spots, which 

 seem to have covered it, and which appear to be the remains 

 of fructification. 



The characteristics mentioned indicate the genus Lomari- 

 opsis, in which a number of similar fan-shaped forms appear. 

 L. triquetra {Acrostichum t., Wall., see Ettingsh., Ferns, pi. 

 v., fig. 1, 6) corresponds in the most remarkable manner with 

 the species described, and consequently only an insignificant 

 difference could be discovered. In the existing species the 

 secondary nerves are distant from each other l-5mm. to 2mm., 

 while in the fossil before me the distance between each of 

 them is only 1mm. ; however, in all other characteristic 

 qualities exists the most perfect agreement. In Lomariopsis 

 as well as in Acrostichum is a thick accumulation of sporule& 

 on the under side and sometimes on both sides of the frond. 

 As the spots above referred to are charred, it is impossible 

 to recognise their structure, but in consequence of their distri- 

 bution it is most probable that they are the remains of tho 

 sporule covering. 



