FLORA OF THE DEVONIAN. "..", 1 



Neuropteris Dawsoni, Bartt (Fig. 193). This remarkable fern, 

 discovered by Mr Bartt, and to which be has done me the honour to 

 attach my name, presents curious points of affinity to Cyclopterids 

 and Neuropterids, and perhaps may, when more rally known, be placed 



in a distinct genus. Mr Bartt describes it as follows: — 



"Frond, pinnate or bipinnate (nmst probably the latter); radii- 

 thick, sometimes wlicn compressed half an inch wide, coarsely striated, 

 always winged; pinnae (pinnules?) alternate, very oblique, linear 



lanceolate, moderately acute at apex, slightly notched above its base, 

 decurrent on the rachis, often about an inch in width, and sometimes 

 six inches long; margin strong, a few large undulations ; midrib thick, 

 tapering gradually, disappearing before reaching the apex, straight, 

 entering a pinna (pinnules?) obliquely from the upper side, giving off 

 very numerous nerves, which spring very obliquely from it, running 

 about parallel with it, forking once near the midrib, and once more 

 half-way to the margin, sometimes again close to the margin, the 

 whole scries being strongly arched. 



" The pinnae, particularly when the midribs are thick, show a strong 

 tendency to split up in a direction to the rachis. I have sometimes 

 noticed them folded in a conduplicatcd manner." 



Neuropteris crassa, sp. nov. Single pinnules, broad, oval, oblique 

 at base, thick, smooth above with very numerous arched veins. A 

 pinna with somewhat larger pinnules similarly veined may belong to 

 the same species. 



There are fragments which possibly indicate two other species of 

 Neuropteris. 



Sphenopteris Hceninghcaisi, Brongniart. One of the ferns from the 

 shales near St John appears to be identical with the above species, 

 which belongs to the Lower Carboniferous of Europe. 



fyhennpteris marginata, Dawson (Fig. 192, D). This resembles 

 the last species in general form, but is larger, with the pinnules round 

 or round-ovate, divided into three or five rounded lobes, and united 

 by a broad base to the broadly winged petiole. Found with tho 

 preceding. One specimen, given to me by Mr llartt, shows a frond 

 six inches in length. 



Sp/irnopteris Ifarttii, Dawson (Fig. 192, E). Bipinnate or tripin- 

 nate. Divisions of the rachis margined. Pinnules oblique, and con- 

 fluent with the margins of the petiole ; bluntly and unequally lobed. 

 Nerves small, oblique, twice-forked. This beautiful Bern very closely 

 resembles *S'. alata from the Coal-field of Port Jackson, but differs in 

 several of its details. I name it in honour of Mr llartt, the discoverer 

 of several of the St John ferns. Found with the preceding. 



