98 prop, a. c. seward : coxtkibutiox to [March 1913, 



Aphlebia sp. (PI. XIV, fig-. 4.) 



(Fairlight Clay, Ecclesbourne ; Ilufford Coll.) 



The irregularly dissected leaf-like organ shown in fig. 4 

 (4 cm. x 3'3 cm.) has no well-defined veins ; but the surface 

 is characterized by numerous spreading striations or wrinklings, 

 which may be the result of contraction. 



A specimen described as ApJilebia from the Upper Jurassic beds 

 of Sutherland 1 has been compared with the stipules of recent 

 Marattiaceous ferns, and it is not unlikely that the "Wealden fossil 

 is of this nature. In size, as also in the uneven margin, the 

 specimen agrees closely with the stipules of Marattia fraxinea. 2 



Some ovate entire leaves with forked and spreading veins, 

 recently described by Dr. Halle 3 from the Middle Jurassic beds 

 of Yorkshire under a new generic designation, Cloughtonia, may 

 be closely allied to the "Wealden fossil. Halle is inclined to 

 regard Cloughtonia as bracteal, and possibly borne on some highly- 

 developed Gymnosperm ; he also suggests comparison with large 

 Angiospermous petals. 



One cannot speak with any confidence as to the nature of these 

 detached scales, but I am inclined to think that the comparison 

 with stipular or aphleboid organs is the more appropriate. 



Some Wealden specimens from South Africa, described as Gyca- 

 dolepis jenkinsiana (Tate), 4 may perhaps be of the same general 

 type as the English example. 



Planta incertce seclis. 

 (? Etjfilicine^e.) 



DlCHOPTERIS DELICATEXA, Sp. nOV. (PI. XI, figS. 6« & 6 I.) 



(Eairlight, Dawson Coll.) 



The specimen on which this species is founded exhibits the 

 following characters : — Rachis and axes of pinnae relatively stout 

 and prominent ; pinnae alternate. Pinnules alternate, with a 

 fairly thick lamina, a deltoid or broadly-linear blunt apex, attached 

 by the whole base ; no veins shown. 



The form of the pinnae reminds one of species of Gleicheaites, 

 or of the Sussex specimens previously described under the name 

 Leckenbya valdensis,* and subsequently referred to Oleichenites 

 cycadina (Schenk) 6 ; but DicJiopteris delicatula is distinguished 

 by the form of the pinnules, which show no sign of a lobed base, 

 and by the absence of the CladojjJdebis type of venation. Super- 

 ficially, there is a fairly close similarity to some of the Sussex 

 fossils described as Sphenopteris jittoni Sew. 7 ; but in that species 

 the pinnae are shorter, the pinnules more acute and often lobed. 



Seward (11) p. 



674, 



texl 



-fig- 6- 





2 Seward 



(10) p. 



317 



,fig. 



, 41 B. 



Halle (11). 











4 Seward 



(03) pi, 



iv, 



figs. 



3&4. 



Seward (95) p. 



225. 









Seward 



(11) p. 



664 







Seward (94) p. 



107, 



pi. 



vi, %• 



2 & pi. 



vii, fig. 1. 











