Ho.uick: Status oF OpnioGLossum ALLEN! L. 211 
of the midrib; Fic. 5, the latter flattened by pressure; Fic. 6, 
the same with seeds detached. Fic. 7 is a reproduction of 
Cockerell’s figures illustrating his description of Brachyruscus, 
and Fia. 8, a drawing of a cladode of Ruscus aculeatus Linnaeus, 
with infloresence attached. A comparison between the last 
two figures hardly seems to suggest, even with the assistance 
of an earnest effort of the imagination, that there could be any 
near relationship between the specimens that they represent; 
and, in any event, it is evident that, if the description and 
figures of Brachyruscus correctly describe and depict the speci- 
men selected by the author as the type of the genus, Brachy- 
ruscus Allent Cockerell can not possikly be either congeneric 
or morphologically identical with Ophioglossum Allent Les- 
quereux. The author has, however, provided for this contingency 
to a certain extent, in the footnote previously mentioned, 
which should be read in this connection. 
Incidentally, on PLATE 12, FIG. 9, is a drawing of a bract of 
Dobinia vulgaris Hamilton, showing the character of the nerva- 
tion and a fructification attached to the midvein, in order that 
it may perhaps be recognized and accepted, in preference to 
the cladode of Ruscus, as the morophological equivalent and 
a possible family relative of Brachyruscus. 
In view of the facts here presented if anyone should deem it 
necessary to coin a seventh generic name for Ophioglossum Allent, 
based upon its resemblance to capsules or carpels of species of 
certain genera included in the Staphyleaceae and Sapindaceae, 
the responsibility will rest on him, not on me. The already 
established name, which is descriptive of what the species appears 
to morphologically simulate and which is therefore properly ap- 
plicable, is Carpolithes Alleni (Lesquereux) Cockerell. 
Explanation of plates 10-12 
PLATE 10 
SaLvinta ALLENI (Lesquereux) Lesquereux 
= Ophioglossum Allent Lesquereux] 
Fic. ae U. S. Geol. Survey Terr. Rept. Vol. 7 (The Tertiary Flora): pl. 
5.f. eG 18 
FIG. : ee Vol. 8 (The Cretaceous and Tertiary Floras): pi. 21, f. 
To. 1883. 
Fic. 3. Idem. f. 72. 
