XXXIV INTEODTTCTIOTT. 



Polypodium HocTistetteri. The formation from whicli these -were 

 collected is spoken of as probably Wealden in age.' 



The preceding sketch is by no means intended to convey the 

 idea that all the plant-bearing beds referred to are probably 

 of Wealden age. 



A more critical and detailed comparison of the species men- 

 tioned in the above lists will be made after the descriptions of 

 the English specimens have been completed. "Very possibly some 

 of the plants which have been quoted as Jurassic in age may 

 have to be correlated eventually with the typical "Wealden 

 floras; but in this introductory review there have simply been 

 given those plant lists which include species of undoubted 

 Wealden affinities, or, in other words, of which Wealden floral 

 elements form a more or less conspicuous part. The plants 

 described by Bartholni* from Bornholm are spoken of as Jurassic 

 in age, but it seems not at all unlikely that the evidence will 

 be found to be rather in favour of a Lower Cretaceous 

 horizon. It may be found that Wealden plant beds are also 

 represented in Sweden ; at least one characteristic species, 

 Weichselia ManteUi (Brong.), has been recorded from Swedish 

 strata. 



There are other records of plants to which allusion might be 

 made as including at least one Wealden species, but it may 

 suffice to mention two instances. In a notice by Tate in the 

 Journal of the Geological Society for 1867 there is a plant 

 figured under the name Sphenopteris antipodum, Tate,' from the 

 Geelhoutboon beds in the ITitenhage series (Lower Cretaceous) 

 of South Africa. This fossil is compared by the author of the 

 species to Sphenopteris Jugleri, Ett., but there appears to be a 

 much closer resemblance to Onyehiopsis {Sphenopteris) ManteUi 

 (Brong.), and, indeed, I have decided to include Tate's fragment 

 under this characteristic Wealden species.* 



' Eeise Fregatte Novara, vol. i. Abth. ii. p. 1. 



' Bot. Tid. Bot. For. Kjovenhavn, vol. xriii. Heft i. 1892, p. 12. 



' Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc. vol. xxiii. 1867, p. 146. 



« p. 44. 



