CLADOPHLEBIS. 87 
B. Genera which afford no trustworthy evidence as to 
their affinities with existing families. 
Genus CLADOPHLEBIS, Brongniart. 
[Tableau, 1849, p. 25.] 
Brongniart, in his ‘‘ Histoire des végétaux fossiles,” ' arranged 
the numerous species of his genus Pecopteris in several groups, 
and one of these he called NMeuropterides. In a later work? this 
group is reconsidered, with the result that the new generic term 
Cladophlebis is substituted for those species of Pecopterts included 
in the Neuropterides. He regards Cladophlebis as a transitional 
form between Pecopteris and Neuropteris, and points out its charac- 
teristics without giving any definite diagnosis. 
Fontaine, in his ‘‘ Potomac Flora,’ retains Brongniart’s genus, 
and speaks of the convenience of referring certain sterile fronds 
to such a genus where venation is the guiding character;* he 
refers to Saporta as the first to put into a concise definition the 
distinguishing features of Cladophlebis. The following diagnosis is 
from Saporta’s important work on the Jurassic plants of France*:— 
“‘Frons pinnatim divisa, pinnule ab alterutra discrete vel vix 
inter se cohewrentes rachi tota basi adnate aut plus minusve con- 
tracte subque auriculate integre rariusve dentate; nervuli e 
nervo medio orti apicem versus attenuati vel evanidi primum 
obliqui, dein curvati furcatoque divisi.” 
As Saporta remarks, this genus is founded on venation characters 
and is, therefore, artificial; but like other similarly constituted 
genera it is useful for the reception of those ferns the botanical 
affinities of which are at present unknown. This author includes 
under Cladophlebis the widely distributed Pecopteris Whitbyensis, 
Brong., Asplenites Résserti, Schenk, ete. 
Schimper, in 1874, gave a more exhaustive definition of the 
same genus, and drew attention to the fact that Saporta’s de- 
1 p. 320. 
2 Tableaux, p. 26. 
SpeiGi. 
Pal. Frane, sér. ii. vol. i. 18738, p. 298. 
5 Trait. pal. vég. vol. ili. p. 513. 
