5io 



C0RM0PHYTA. 



forms which may be provisionally placed here, although it is prob- 

 able that at least a moiety belong to existing families. One series 

 has been named on the evidence of sterile, and the other on that of 

 fertile leaves, and there is accordingly a considerable probability that 

 different genera have been named from a single species. Of the 

 former series a fern from the Keuper and the Panchet series of the 

 Indian Gondwanas has been described as Pecopteris concinna ; and 

 we also have Lepidopteris from the Rhaetic, Merianopteris from the 

 Keuper and the Damuda series of the Gondwanas, Anomopteris of 

 the Keuper, and O-ematopteris of the Bunter. In the second series, 

 where the leaves consists of palmate branches on a long stalk, we 

 have Lacopteris, Matontdium, Marzaria, Andriana, &c. The 

 Pachypteridece are Mesozoic ferns, with small leaves, and include the 

 Liassic Dichopteris, and the Oolitic Scleropteris and Stachypteris ; 

 Pachypteris itself being a doubtful form probably based upon re- 

 mains of two of the preceding genera. The fructification of some 

 of these Ferns resembles that of the existing tropical Polypodiaceous 

 genus Onychium, to which they may be allied. In the present 

 family Dr Feistmantel would include Thinnfeldia, a peculiar genus 

 having thick leaves, which may be only simply pinnate, with lobate 

 pinnae ; and occurring typically in the Rhaetic and Lower Lias, but 

 also found in the Indian Panchets, in the reputed Trias of New 

 Zealand, in the Hawkesbury and overlying beds of Australia, and 

 also in Argentina. The Lomatopteridece include a few Mesozoic 

 ferns of allied types, having thick fleshy leaves, which are usually 

 simply pinnate, with lobation of the pinnae. Exclusive of the last- 

 named genus this family contains Lomatopteris, extending from the 

 Bath Oolite to the Kimeridgian and probably the Wealden ; and 

 Cycadopteris, which ranges from the Lias to the Upper Jurassic. 



With the TceniopteridecE we come to a family easily recognisable 

 by their usually simple strap-like leaves (fig. 1376), with a well- 

 developed midrib, which are curiously like those of the Plaintain 



(Musa). It may be di- 

 vided into two subfami- 

 lies, according to the 

 venation. In the first 

 subfamily, with a normal 

 venation, Tceniopteris is 

 represented by a few 

 European and North 

 American Carboniferous 

 species, and also occurs in the Trias of Europe and New Zealand. 

 The allied Macrotceniopteris comprises some very large ferns, rang- 

 ing in Europe from the Keuper to the Lower Lias, and doubtfully 

 to the Inferior Oolite, while it occurs in India in both the Upper 



Fig. 1376. — Leaf of Glossopteris retifera; from the Lower 

 Gondwanas of India. Reduced. (After Feistmantel.) 



