116 MEDULLOSEAE [CH. 



to seeds that do not furnish evidence as to internal structure, 

 and the employment of the designation Rhabdospermum for seeds 

 that conform to those described by Brongniart as Rhabdocarpus . 

 The seeds of Neuropteris may be of the Rhabdospermum type 

 or they may agree anatomically more closely with Trigono- 

 carpus or Pachytesta\ they are members of either the Trigono- 

 carpales or the Cardiocarpales, probably the former group. 

 Dr P. Bertrand 1 assigns to Neuropteris gigantea some seeds 

 of the Hexapterospermum (= Hexagonocarpus 2 ) type which occur 

 in association with cupule-like organs. These supposed cupules 

 resemble the Potoniea leaflets with microsporangia also referred 

 to the same species of Neuropteris ; they are characterised by 

 a laciniate edge and may be compared with the Indian fossil 

 described by Zeiller as Ottokaria bengalensis 3 (fig. 433). Dr Arber 4 

 and Dr P. Bertrand 5 have independently proposed the generic 

 name Neurospermum for the seeds of Neuropteris heterophylla 

 and N. obliqua, in preference to Rhabdocarpus : the former author 

 speaks of the seeds of N. heterophylla as Neurospermum Kidstoni- 

 The generic term Neuropterocarpus used by Grand'Eury in 1904 6 , 

 though not defined by him, has priority and avoids the adoption 

 of a new designation for seeds attached to Neuropteris fronds. 

 In his definition of Neurospermum Arber makes no reference to 

 the obliquity of the apical snout that is clearly shown in fig. 422. 

 There is no evidence that Neuropterocarpus possessed a cupular 

 investment comparable with that of Lagenostoma. Additional 

 instances of the association of seeds with Neuropteris fronds are 

 recorded by Kenier from the Belgian Coal Measures, also by 

 Bertrand and Chodat from France : Renier found seeds associated 

 with N. Schlehani Stur and with the same species of frond Bertrand 

 found impressions of oval ribbed seeds. Prof. Chodat 7 has 

 figured some fragments of Neuropteris pinnules referred to N.. 

 auriculata Brongn. from the Stephanian of France which show 

 small seed-like bodies apparently in organic connexion with 

 the lamina ; but the specimens are too imperfect to afford any 



1 P. Bertrand (13) p. 129, PL vn. figs. 1, 2, 7. 2 See Chapter xxxv. 



3 See page 139. 4 Arber (14) pp. 93, 103, PL vm. fig. 47. 



5 P. Bertrand (13) p. 121. Grand'Eury (04 2 ) p. 785 (footnote). 



7 Chodat (08) B. p. 33, fig. 15. 



