262 BAIEEA. 



leaf of this type occurs in close proximity to the example figured, 

 associated with Czekanowskia Murrayana, etc. 



Genus BAIERA. 

 [Braun, in Minister's Beitriige, Heft vi. p. 20, 1843.] 



1. Baiera gracilis, Bunbury, ex Bean MS. 



2. Baiera Lindleyana (Schimper). 



3. Baiera Phillipsi, JNathorst. 



Braun defined his genus Baiera as follows : 



"Venae primarise frondis pluries dichotomae ; venae secundaria; 

 ac venules in areas hexagonales clongatis irregulariter con- 

 fluentes ; sporocarpia capsulaeforatia, oyalia pedunculata, temata 

 vel biternata." 



This diagnosis does not apply in all respects e.g. as regards 

 venation characters to species of Baiera, but subsequent work 

 has demonstrated more satisfactorily the true character of Braun' s 

 genus. 



The genus Baiera includes several species of Palaeozoic and 

 Mesozoic age, some of which are almost certainly near relatives of 

 the maidenhair - tree. Braun, 1 the author of the genus, applied 

 the name to some Triassic leaves which agree with Ginkgo in 

 shape, but differ in possessing a lamina with more numerous and 

 narrower segments. Braun and Schenk 2 included Baiera among 

 the ferns, and it is not improbable that some of the species may be 

 best compared with such recent ferns as Actinopteris radiata, Link, 

 or with species of Schizcea, e.g. S. dicJiotoma, Sw., S. elegans, Sw., 

 and others. 



Valuable evidence as to the Gymnospermous nature of some types 

 of the genus is afforded by examples of flowers and seeds described 

 by Schenk, 3 Hcer, 4 and other authors. Among Palaeozoic leaves 

 referred to Baiera, we have Baiera virginiana, Pont. & Wh., 5 



1 Braun (43), p. 20. 



2 Schenk (67). 



3 Ibid. 



4 Heer (76), p. 51. 



5 Fontaine & "White (80), pi. xxxvii. 



