ETTFFOEDIA. 75 



V. 2302. A very imperfect cast, 23 cm. long ; the petiole bases 

 badly defined. A number of small holes occur on the surface of 

 the sandstone, which no doubt mark the position of adventitious 

 roots. The leaf-trace appears to correspond in shape to that of 

 P. Witteana as represented in Schenk's figure, Palaeontographica, 

 vol. xix. pi. xxx. Ecclesbourne. Ruford Coll. 



Family ? 



Sporangia usually on modified leaf-segments ; sessile or shortly 

 stalked, with a complete apical aimulus and longitudinal dehiscence. 



Genus RUFFOBDIA, gen. nov. 



In instituting this new generic name I have followed the example 

 recently set by Raciborski in the case of Mesozoic ferns, and by 

 Stur, Zeiller, Kidston and others in dealing with ferns of Palseozoic 

 age. Raciborski proposes the name Klukia l for the " oldest known 

 of the Schizacea" and takes as the type of the genus Pecopteris 

 exilis, Phill., of which fertile pinnules have been described by 

 Phillips, Lindley and Hutton, and Bunbury. 



In the present instance the new term is proposed instead of the 

 older provisional genus Sphenopteris, on the ground that the 

 Museum Collection has afforded material which gives us a much 

 further insight into the true botanical affinity of Bunker's species, 

 S. Gopperti. The fertile pinnse, described in detail under the 

 species Ruffordia Gopperti, suggest a connection with Anemia, and 

 the character of the sterile fronds is strongly confirmatory. On 

 the other hand no details can be made out in the sporangia, which 

 would afford the most trustworthy kind of evidence in favour of 

 or against a reference to the Schizacece\ to refer the Wealden 

 fern to Anemia, or to Dawson's genus Aneimites, would be a step 

 in advance of the facts at our disposal. Dawson suggested the 

 sub-genus Aneimites for a Devonian fern of the Cyclopteris type, 



Bot. Jahrb. vol. xiii. p. 1. 



