Hevieics — Dr. D. Stur — Fossil Ferns of the Coal-measures. 329 



Ehacoptekis. — In the OpMoglossacecs, Stur places the genus 

 Bhacopteris, Scbimper. The only member of the genus whose fruit 

 is known is Bhacopteris panicrilifera, Stur, which was previously 

 described by him in his Culm Flora. He associates with this fern 

 fifteen other species, of which, as far as we are aware, the fruit has 

 not been observed. 



NoEGGERATHiA, restricted to contain N. flabellata, L. and H., N. 

 foliosa, 0. Feistm. (not Sternb.), and iV^. foliosa, Sternb., is also 

 included in the Ophioglossacece, a view we are not inclined to accept. 

 If one may judge from the figures of the fruit of N. foliosa as given 

 by Dr. Stur and other authors, its structure appears to point much 

 more to the Cycadacete than to ferns. What Stur regards as fruiting 

 pinnules appear to be bracts from a Cycadaceous male inflorescence. 

 In recent Cycads the anthers are borne upon curiously modified 

 bract-like scales, an arrangement with which the fruit of N. foliosa 

 agrees very closely. 



He retains associated with this species N. flabellata, L. and H., 

 which we are inclined to regard as generically distinct, and for which 

 SchiTiiper created the genus Psygmophyllum.^ 



MAKATTiACEiE. — Of the Carboniferous ferns whose fruit is known, 

 many point to aflBuities with the Marattiacece, some approaching it 

 very closely in the structure of their sporangia. Several of these 

 fructifications are extremely interesting and carry the order back to 

 a very early time in the world's history. The following genera are 

 placed in this group by Dr. Stur. 



Sphyroptbris, Stur. — The sporangia in this genus are produced at 

 the extremities of the pinnules and extend laterally from the point 

 of their attachment " as a hammer on its handle." 



Hapalopteris, Stur. — It has already been pointed out by Zeiller 

 that this genus does not differ from his BenauUia.- Stur places 

 here a number of Si3henopteroids, the fruit of many of which is still 

 unknown. 



Senftenbergia, Corda. — It seems quite impossible to include 

 here Pecopteris exigua, Renault,^ which has exannulate spox"angia, 

 whereas the presence of an annulus is an essential character of the 

 genus Senftenbergia. This genus, then, cannot be placed in Marat- 

 tiacece, but Pec. exigua finds a suitable place in that order. 



Grand'Eurya, Stur. — This name has previously been appropriated 

 by Zeiller* for a genus formed by him for the reception of Sphen. 

 coralloides, Gutbiei-. The ferns now placed in Grand'Eurya by 

 Stur are quite distinct from those for which Zeiller created the 

 genus. In fact, from some cause, Stur seems to have been unaware 

 that the name was previously appropriated, and now proposes it as 

 new. Apparently Dr. Stur has founded his genus upon mistaken 

 views of the structure of Eenault's specimen, which we think might 



^ Traite d. Paleont. reget., vol ii. p. 192. 



2 Ann. d. Scienc. Nat. Bot., vol. xvii. p. 4, 1884. Fructifications de Fougeres 

 du terrain houiller. 



•' Cours d. botan. foss. Troisieme Annee, p. 115, pi. xix. f. 13-18. 1883. 

 * Zeiller, Ann. d. Scienc. Nat., 6^ Se'r. Bot., vol. xvi. p. 203, pi. xii. 



