FILICES. 141 



He therefore does not decide for one or the other view, so long as the 

 fructifications are unknown, and inclines to see in Thinnfeldia and its allies 

 a group intermediate between Ferns and Gymnosperms. Though this is 

 in fact a possible supposition, for we shall be compelled by other observa- 

 tions, as in the case of Lyginodendron, to assume the existence of such inter- 

 mediate groups, yet I would point out that Lomatopteris 1 and Cycadopteris 2 , 

 genera especially comparable with Thinnfeldia and for which Saporta's 3 

 description should be consulted, are seen to be far more like Ferns. These 

 genera are represented in the Jurassic system by a large number of species. 

 In Cycadopteris Brauniana, common in the district of Vicenza, Zigno 

 believes that he has discovered the sori ; these according to his figure, 

 which is not indeed very convincing, are like strokes following the nerves, 

 and each is bounded by the two stout lips of an indusium. 



The genus Noggerathia was founded by Sternberg in 1823 on a pinnate 

 leaf common in the Radnitz beds of the Bohemian Coal-measures. The 

 specimen was figured as Noggerathia foliosa, Strbg. 4 This species is at 

 present restored to its position as the representative of the type of 

 Noggerathia, now that we are clear of the confusion caused by Brongniart 5 , 

 when he united a mixed multitude of heterogeneous forms under this name. 

 Of these forms, Ginkgophyllum (Noggerathia flabellata) 6 , Dolerophyllum 

 Gopperti, Sap. 7 , Dichoneuron Hookeri, Sap. 8 , and Macropterygium Bronnii, 

 Schpr (Noggerathia vogesiaca, Bronn) 9 , have already been considered. Good 

 figures of the large handsome pinnate leaves of N. foliosa are found in O. 

 Feistmantel 10 and in the illustrations accompanying the text of Stur's work 11 . 

 The pinnae are wedge-shaped with a rounded anterior margin, and the 

 nervation which belongs to the type of Cyclopteris is unusually close and 

 fine. The habit of these leaves recalls certain forms of Cycadeae (Spheno- 

 zamites), because the pinnae which are inserted obliquely on the rhachis and 

 a little to one side overlap and cover one another. For this reason the 

 genus is by most authors placed among Cycadeae, by Schimper 12 , for 

 example, by Saporta 13 , and by Geinitz 14 . 



The view that Noggerathia belongs to the Ferns has quite recently 

 made its appearance, and is due to Stur's 15 careful examination of specimens 

 in fructification;, it was at once adopted by K. 16 and O. Feistmantel 17 . 

 The fructification of this plant will be considered at greater length below. 

 We will only observe in this place that, putting the fructification aside, the 

 belief that this genus belongs to Ferns is supported by the circumstance 



1 Schimper .(1), p. 472. 2 de Zigno (1), vol. i, p. 151 ; tt. 16-18. 3 de Saporta (4). 



* Sternberg, Graf von (1), Heft 1-4, t. 20. * Brongniart (5). 8 See above, p. 66. 7 See 

 above, p. 124. See above, p. 139. ' See above, p. 88. 10 O. Feistmantel (3), t. 62. 



11 Stur (3), p. 10 ; (4), p. 13. " Schimper (1), vol. ii, p. 129; (2), p. 227. l3 de Saporta (11). 

 14 Geinitz (7). '* Stur (3) and (4). 16 K. Feistmantel (1). 17 O. Feistmantel (2). 



